Behind the Baroque façade of the San Lorenzo Maggiore complex in Naples lies one of the most important Gothic churches in Southern Italy.

Here, you can embark on an exciting journey back in time to ancient Greek and Roman Naples.
The main entrance is in Piazza San Gaetano, a meeting point between the characteristic Via dei Presepi, Via San Gregorio Armeno, and the lively Via dei Tribunali.

The Basilica is dedicated to Saint Lawrence, a martyr who was burned alive on a gridiron in 258 during the persecution of Valerian. It is said that his last words were: “Assum est, versa et manduca“, which translates to “It is roasted (the body), turn it over and eat”.

The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore spans a broad timespan of 25 centuries, from the Greek-Roman period to the 18th-19th centuries. It was built in the unmistakable French Gothic style around 1270-1275, thanks to the initiative and funding of King Charles I of Anjou. However, the history of the monumental complex is much older. In this location, there was already a Paleo-Christian basilica dating back to the 6th century, which was donated to the Franciscan friars in 1234.

Artists such as Massimo Stanzione, Tino da Camaino, Cosimo da Fanzago, Francesco De Mura, Colantonio, and Simone Martini have worked here.

The current plan of the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a large central nave and 23 side chapels. On the exterior, you can admire a beautiful Gothic portal, which preserves the original 14th-century wooden doors.
The facade and the counter-facade, designed by Ferdinando Sanfelice, are in the Baroque style. Similarly, the Cacace Chapel and the large chapel of Sant’Antonio, created by Cosimo Fanzago, also exhibit Baroque characteristics.

Numerous members of the Angevin royal house are buried at San Lorenzo Maggiore, including the first wife of Duke Carlo di Calabria, Caterina d’Austria. Additionally, the tomb of Giambattista Della Porta and the funerary monument of Ludovico Aldomorisco are also located here.
Above the main altar, you can see statues of the saints Lorenzo, Antonio, and Francesco; on the lower part, there are depictions of the Martyrdom of Saint Lorenzo, Saint Francis with the wolf of Gubbio, and Saint Anthony preaching to the fishes. To the right of the church, through an elegant fifteenth-century portal, you can access the convent and the eighteenth-century cloister; on the walls, there are some sepulchral monuments. On the external facade, you can notice the coats of arms of the “Sedili” of Naples, each corresponding to a district of the city.

The cloister and convent of San Lorenzo were witness to the encounter between Giovanni Boccaccio and his muse and inspiration, Fiammetta, the captivating Maria d’Aquino, daughter of King Robert of Anjou.

The central position of the bell tower caused the church to be in the midst of several important historical events. It was also a protagonist in the revolution led by Masaniello, during which his followers stormed it and used it as an artillery outpost against the Spanish.

From the cloister, you can directly access the archaeological excavations of San Lorenzo Maggiore. Under the church, in fact, extends a real archaeological area at about 10 meters deep. It is a well-preserved Roman-era cardo on which some ancient shops belonging to the macellum (market) of the Roman era overlook. Along the path, various shops can be seen; one of these was probably the Aerarium, the place where the city treasury was kept. The visit route allows you to discover a well-preserved Cryptoportico (covered market); with its architecture, it testifies to the concrete transition from Greek to Roman Naples.

Inaugurated in 2005, the Museum of the Works preserves the archaeological remains of ancient Greek Neapolis. It houses paintings, ancient monastic garments, and furnishings from the monastery dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.