Spire of the Immaculate Virgin

The Spire of the Immaculate Virgin is a marble column on Piazza del Gesù Nuovo decorated with religious sculptures and ornamental details throughout its surface. The structure displays various artistic elements that reflect the craftsmanship and religious beliefs of its era.

The monument was built in the early 1700s as part of a series of structures erected in Naples following devastating plague epidemics. This obelisk represents a period when the city sought to express religious devotion through public monuments.

The spire serves as a gathering place where residents honor the Virgin Mary through local religious practices that remain central to the square's identity. The devotion to Mary shapes how people use and experience this public space.

The monument is easily accessible from Toledo metro station, which lies within a short walk of Piazza del Gesù Nuovo. It is best visited during daylight hours when the square is active and the architectural details are clearly visible.

This obelisk is one of three principal structures of its kind in Naples, each positioned at different locations throughout the historic center. This arrangement reveals how important religious symbols were to the city's urban design in that era.