Temples & religious sites
San Paolo Maggiore
San Paolo Maggiore is a basilica church in Naples, southern Italy, and the burial place of Saint Cajetan, founder of the Theatines. It is located on Piazza Gaetano, about 1-2 blocks north of Via dei Tribunali.
San Paolo Maggiore
San Paolo Maggiore is a basilica church on Piazza San Gaetano, built over the site of a Roman temple and known as the burial place of Saint Cajetan, founder of the Theatine order. Travellers usually visit for the Baroque interior and for the church's place within one of the oldest, most continuously inhabited stretches of Naples, where the street plan still traces the ancient Greek and Roman grid.
Getting there
The church sits in the historic centre, about 1-2 blocks north of Via dei Tribunali. From the Naples waterfront or Piazza Municipio, it's a walk of roughly 15-20 minutes through the old town, or a short ride on the Naples metro to the Municipio or Dante stations followed by a walk of a few minutes. If arriving from Capodichino Airport (NAP), a taxi or the Alibus into the centre takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic, followed by a short walk into the pedestrian core.
Time to allow
Visiting the church itself typically takes 20-30 minutes, enough to see the facade, the interior decoration, and the area connected to Saint Cajetan.
When to go
Mornings tend to be quieter, before the surrounding lanes fill with visitors moving between the nearby sights. The piazza and adjoining streets can get busy at midday, especially in high season.
Combine with
- San Lorenzo Maggiore (0.1km) - directly adjacent, often paired with this visit
- Naples Cathedral (0.3km) - a short walk east
- Cappella Sansevero (0.3km) - nearby, known for its sculpture
- Basilica of St. Dominic (0.4km) - within easy walking distance
These sights cluster tightly enough to cover on foot in a single outing through the historic centre.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
