San Paolo Maggiore, Minor basilica in Naples, Italy.
Description
San Paolo Maggiore is a baroque basilica in Naples that incorporates two ancient Corinthian columns with their entablature into its facade, salvaged from an old temple dedicated to the Dioscuri. The building combines these antique elements with a transept and polygonal apse added during later reconstruction.
History
The church was reconstructed in 1538 under Francesco Grimaldi's direction, receiving a new transept and polygonal apse. This transformation blended the salvaged remains of an ancient temple with a new sacred structure.
Culture
The basilica takes its name from Saint Paul, a figure deeply honored in Neapolitan tradition. Inside, visitors encounter ornate decorations created by local artists that shaped the church's spiritual and artistic identity.
Practical
The basilica is located at Piazza San Gaetano 76 and welcomes visitors free of charge. The site sits within easy walking distance from Cavour metro station.
Did you know?
The sacristy was completed in the early 1690s by Francesco Solimena and survived the 1943 bombings with its original frescoes intact. This room holds rare wall paintings that endured from that era.
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