Basilica of San Domenico Maggiore (Basilica di San Domenico Maggiore)

A visit to San Domenico Maggiore is often included in tours of Naples’ historic center, as it stands right in the heart of the city’s old town. You can join an in-depth tour of the whole of the monumental complex—skip-the-line entry of the church and Treasure Chamber, the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, the convent, and the crypt—or opt for a walking or Vespa tour of Naples’ highlights that includes a stop at San Domenico Maggiore, as well as the nearby churches of Gesù Nuovo and Santa Chiara. Foodies can choose a Naples food and sightseeing tour to explore the city’s famous street food along with its historic churches, and history enthusiasts can combine a visit to Naples with a tour of the nearby Roman ruins at Pompeii.

Overlooking a bustling square of the same name, San Domenico Maggiore was built between 1283 and 1324. It incorporates a smaller church, the Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo a Morfisa—you can see the remains inside—built at the same location in the 10th century, and has undergone many renovations over its long history. In 1670, it was reworked in a baroque style, though most of the church was restored to its original Gothic design in the 19th century.