Surrounded by palaces and a 13th-century church, this historic square is a great place to have coffee and a pastry and watch how the locals relax.

Enjoy simply watching people in the Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, one of Naples’ most attractive and bustling squares. Students, tourists, street vendors and musicians keep the scene interesting at almost every hour of the day. Take in the atmosphere while admiring the surrounding buildings, which are some of the city’s finest.

The square is dominated by the apse of the cathedral for which it is named, the Maggiore San Domenico. Built between 1283 and 1324, this church has had several facelifts, including a Baroque remodeling in 1670. In the 19th century it was restored to its original Gothic style. Inside you can see the remains of the very first church that stood here, a modest Romanesque chapel dating back to the 10th century. There are also several impressive works of Renaissance art, such as frescoes by Cavalli and copies of originals by Caravaggio.

You won’t miss the tall monument in the center of the square. Known locally as the Guglia di San Domenico, this obelisk was constructed as a token of gratitude to St. Domenico for delivering the city from the great plague of 1656. Baroque reliefs decorate the sides of the base, and a statue of St. Domenico stands at the top, looking out toward the city, protecting the church from further danger.

Also of note are the palaces that line the other three sides of the square. In the 17th century, the Neapolitan aristocracy began to build their homes here. The most interesting of these is the Palazzo Petrucci, which still has its original entrance and courtyard and is now home to a famous restaurant.

The soul of the square, however, comes from those who make their way here to meet, sell their wares, or simply relax in its beautiful surroundings. You can easily spend an afternoon here browsing the vintage shops, stopping for a pizza or admiring the treats in the famous cake shops. Be sure to take your time over coffee as you observe the comings and goings of Neapolitan life.

The Piazza San Domenico Maggiore is located close to the center of Naples and is open daily year-round.

Plan a trip to see Piazza San Domenico Maggiore

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HOTIDAY Room Collection - Napoli Duomo

Naples City Centre

￥354,460

per person

May 1 - May 4

found 11 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Osaka (KIX) to Naples (NAP)

7.4/10 Good! (26 reviews)

This hotel is comfortable and clean. The reception and breakfast staff were very helpful and friendly. The location is very near the central train station. While our room was spacious and comfortable, the door to an adjoining suite allowed so much noise - we could hear the neighbours as if they were in our room. Additionally, we were given a mini-bar price list, but no actual fridge in the room. They also have a rule of not bringing any food back to your room! The safe also did not work. There was a split of AC/heat, a large closet and desk. The bed was comfortable. The breakfast started at 8am. It consisted of very tasty pastries, yoghurt, and cereal in a nicely decorated room by reception. I would recommend the hotel as a clean, comfortable place to stay but definitely minimalist. And perhaps other rooms are better sound-proofed than ours was...

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2025

Grand Hotel Parkers

Chiaia

￥439,576

per person

May 1 - May 4

found 11 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Osaka (KIX) to Naples (NAP)

8.8/10 Excellent! (847 reviews)

The staff the property the decorative finish is all beautiful. The hotel communal areas also have an amazing smell and of course the Room is spacious classic and spectacular. My one and only negative observation “no matter how hard I tried the Breakfast Cheff can not execute a perfect fried or poached egg. And the Ala’Cart Cheff severs me a Raw Burger then having sent it back continued to grill the same patty till it was cremated and basically wrecked it. It think the management need to remind the Cheff the customers are paying high menu prices and to step up considerably to the customers expectations. Other than that a Beautiful Stay xx

Reviewed on Jan 19, 2026

De Bonart Naples, Curio Collection by Hilton

Chiaia

￥430,026

per person

May 1 - May 4

found 11 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Osaka (KIX) to Naples (NAP)

9.2/10 Wonderful! (148 reviews)

I would rate this hotel as a 4-star property rather than a 5-star. The rooms feel somewhat dated and do not meet the quality typically expected of a five-star hotel. However, they do meet the expectations of a solid four-star hotel overall.

Reviewed on Dec 25, 2025