Piazza del Plebiscito
Naples' largest square. A curved colonnade frames the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola facing the Royal Palace, making it the city's ceremonial heart.
Piazza del Plebiscito takes its name from the 1860 plebiscite that brought the territory into the Kingdom of Italy. On one side stands the Royal Palace. Opposite are the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, modeled on Rome's Pantheon, and a semicircular Doric colonnade. Two equestrian bronze statues of Bourbon kings stand in the center of the square. The square is spacious and car-free, and it hosts major city events such as concerts and New Year's celebrations. There is a local game: try to walk blindfolded from the Royal Palace straight to the spot between the two equestrian statues. Few people manage a straight line. Next door, Gran Caffè Gambrinus is a century-old café, where you can order an espresso and a sfogliatella.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Royal Palace of Naples
- Teatro di San Carlo
- Galleria Umberto I
- Spaccanapoli
- Quartieri Spagnoli
- Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino)
- Castel dell'Ovo
- Santa Chiara Monastery