Italy Guide
Campania
Santa Restituta
Though part of the cathedral complex, the basilica of Santa Restituta actually is a separate church, officially the oldest structure in Naples, erected by Constantine in 324 and supported by columns that were taken from a temple to Apollo on this site. Off to the right of the main altar, you pay extra to visit the baptistry (Mon– Sat 9am–12.30pm & 4.30–6pm, Sun 9am–1pm; €3), which also contains relics from very early Christian times, including late fifth-century mosaics and a font believed to have been taken from a temple to Dionysus. The same ticket gives you entry to the excavations below the church, which are open the same hours and also accessed from here – remains of a still earlier church basically, along with bits and pieces from the Roman and even Greek ancient cities. Finally be sure to also see the crypt of San Gennaro, founded by Cardinal Carafa and holding an altar dedicated to the saint complete with his bones.