Convent of San Domenico Maggiore

Visiting the monumental complex of San Domenico Maggiore in Naples (now Doma Museum) is a fascinating experience that spans 8 centuries of art, history, culture and faith. In this complex, which is one of the most important monuments of the Neapolitan historical center, they have left traces from St. Thomas Aquinas to Giordano Bruno and Tommaso Campanella, from Titian to Michelangelo from Caravaggio, from Raphael to Giuseppe de Ribera, from Tino di Camaino to Francesco Solimena, from Luca Giordano to Luigi Vanvitelli, Domenico Vaccaro, Cosimo Fanzago, Mattia Preti and a multitude of other well-known and less known artists. The foundation of the church dates back to 1283, the year in which Charles II of Anjou financed its construction and entrusted the imposing Gothic building (completed in 1324) to the Friars Preachers (the Dominicans), who still reside in the convent where lived St. Thomas Aquinas and that from 1515 to 1615 and from 1701 to 1736 was the seat of the University of Naples. The monumental complex is located in the middle of the historic center of Naples declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, between the lower and the greater Decumanus. Since the Renaissance it has represented a relevant pole for the history of the city thanks to the choice of the Aragonese rulers to elevate the church of San Domenico to a dynastic pantheon: in fact it is still possible to admire the burials, the so-called Aragonese Arche. The majestic Basilica, in which an organ of 1640 pipes reverberates, has a peculiarity: in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore it shows itself with the apse and not with the main façade. The primary entrance opens up instead into the courtyard of the convent. From the square, built after the church, you enter the Basilica through the large staircase on the western side, commissioned by Alfonso I of Aragon for the Romanesque church of San Michele Arcangelo a Morfisa, incorporated into the complex, which leads to the right transept of the Basilica. The standard museum tour with guided tour includes the Sacristy, the Aragonese Arks, the Hall of Sacred Furnishings with the Collection of 16th century clothes and the Salvator Mundi of the school of Leonardo da Vinci. The complete museum tour, always with a guided tour, culminates with a visit to the Corridor and the Cell of St. Thomas Aquinas and, when possible, to the Chapter Room and to the Refettors. The philosopher Saint studied and lived several times in the Basilica of San Domenico Maggiore: here there are objects belonging to the Saint and the prodigious Crucifix of the thirteenth century, which according to tradition spoke to the monk aquinate.

Top. Convent with Edit / Naples. A truly special beauty encounter

Very beautifull! Visited on the occasion of the GreenBlueDays. Stunning set up in a spectacular setting

Gorgeous. Visited on the occasion of the play "Trullo" by, and with, Diego Sommaripa. Young Neapolitan Artist of Great Talent.

Beautiful and well-kept place ... The splendid rooms to admire welcome us for a body mime course. Working there, first in the former library and later in the chapter room, was impressive. But the place would lend itself to much more ... Seeing all those huge empty rooms is a shame. In the photo the wonderful refectory hall. At the entrance or exit of the complex, a visit to the church of s. Domenico Maggiore, also a marvel for the eyes.