Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples: history and visit

Piazza del Plebiscito, in Naples

Piazza del Plebiscito is the largest and most majestic square of Naples, framed by the Royal Palace and the church of San Francesco di Paola. The Naples audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this vast monumental setting, the solemn heart of the town.

The great monumental square of the town

Piazza del Plebiscito is the vastest and most solemn square of Naples, one of its most emblematic places. This immense space is framed, on one side, by the façade of the Royal Palace, former residence of the sovereigns, and, on the other, by the imposing church of San Francesco di Paola, whose neoclassical silhouette evokes the Pantheon of Rome, extended by a vast hemicycle colonnade that embraces the square. In the centre stand two equestrian statues of sovereigns. Its name recalls the plebiscite of 1860 that attached Naples to the unified kingdom of Italy. A place of gatherings, concerts and events, Piazza del Plebiscito is the monumental heart and the great urban stage of Naples.

What to see

You admire the vast square framed by the Royal Palace and the imposing church of San Francesco di Paola with a neoclassical silhouette extended by a hemicycle colonnade, with its equestrian statues in the centre. Piazza del Plebiscito is the monumental heart of Naples. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

Piazza del Plebiscito lies in the heart of Naples, near the Royal Palace and the San Carlo theatre, reachable on foot and by public transport. It is a vast freely accessible public space; the church and the Royal Palace have their own visiting hours. It hosts concerts and events according to the calendar.

What does Piazza del Plebiscito frame in Naples?

On one side the façade of the Royal Palace, on the other the imposing church of San Francesco di Paola with a neoclassical silhouette extended by a vast hemicycle colonnade; in the centre stand two equestrian statues of sovereigns.