Napoli Rione Sanità: visita guidata tra arte barocca, folklore e sapori nel Borgo dei Vergini

On this walking tour (about 2 and a half hours) you will experience the best of Rione Sanità in the company of an expert Local Guide. We will start from Porta San Gennaro, the oldest gate in Naples facing Capodimonte, crossed over the centuries by pilgrims and travelers on their way to the nearby catacombs. After passing the door — surmounted by Mattia Preti's valuable seventeenth-century fresco depicting the Virgin with Saint Gennaro, painted as a thanksgiving after the plague — we will enter the beating heart of the Borgo dei Vergini. Here we will be surrounded by the colors and liveliness of the local market: fruit, vegetable, fish and spice stalls, housewives who bargain aloud, the cheerful voice of the vendors — a lively scene typical of Mediterranean cities, which will make you feel part of the neighborhood.

We will walk along Via Vergini stopping in front of historic places of worship: the church of Santa Maria della Misericordia ai Vergini, a small underground jewel now home to a cultural project, and the church of Santa Maria Succurre Miseris, founded in the 14th century and then rebuilt in baroque forms by Ferdinando Sanfelice. We will be able to admire from the outside (and if possible take a look inside) the ancient structures and the tombstones that tell of floods and rebirths in the neighborhood. We will then continue to the monumental Sanfelice and Spagnolo Palaces: we will enter the courtyards to admire the famous falcon-winged staircases, masterpieces of Neapolitan architecture. Looking up the scenographic stairs, you will feel like you are on the set of a period film — it is no coincidence that these buildings were the setting for famous films. The guide will tell you the stories of the noble families that lived there and the anecdotes related to these places.

We will then reach Piazza Sanità, dominated by the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità with its lively majolica dome. We will enter the basilica to breathe its spirituality: you will see the high altar and the baroque decorations, and we will discover the story of the Monacon (San Vincenzo Ferrer), the saint so loved by the residents. Under the presbytery of the church are the ancient Catacombs of San Gaudioso, which, however, we will not visit internally on this short itinerary. The guide, however, will tell you about the fascinating events related to these underground environments: you will see the entrance to the crypt and you will know how the nobles were buried there centuries ago, with the skulls embedded in the walls and the paintings of their skeletal bodies — a rite unique in the world that well represents the special relationship of Neapolitans with the afterlife.

From Piazza Sanità we will then take Via Santa Maria Antesaecula, the street where Antonio de Curtis, aka Totò, was born. In front of Totò's birthplace (recognizable by a commemorative plaque) we will stop to evoke memories and jokes of the great comedian, who here took his first steps among those simple people who inspired so much of his art. A photo under his mural will be a must! We will continue through the adjacent alleys, passing through the Vicolo della Cultura, where colorful murals, artistic installations and small outdoor libraries testify to the neighborhood's desire for cultural redemption. Nearby we will also see from the outside the entrance to the Catacombs of San Gennaro, located at the foot of the Capodimonte hill: we will listen to the stories surrounding these vast catacombs - among the oldest in Europe - dedicated to the patron saint Gennaro, even if we will not make the internal visit on this tour (you can always decide to visit them independently at a later date).

Before concluding, we will treat ourselves to a pleasant gourmet stop: stop at the historic Poppella Pastry Shop, now in its third generation, for those who want to try the famous Snowflake (a soft brioche filled with milk cream — a local delight!). The break will also be an opportunity for an espresso, as per the Neapolitan tradition. Cheered up by dessert and coffee (not included, optional consumption), we will resume the journey for the last short journey. We will arrive near the Fontanelle Cemetery, a huge ossuary carved out of a tuff quarry. Although it is currently closed to the public for restoration work, the guide will tell you its incredible story: from the thousands of anonymous skulls kept inside it to the cult of “pezzentelle souls”, that is, the symbolic adoption of a skull by Neapolitans in exchange for protection — a ritual suspended between sacred and profane that is part of the identity of the Sanità district. Even without being able to enter, imagining this unique place will add an important element to the understanding of the Neapolitan spirit.

The tour will finally end where it all began, in the bustling streets of healthcare. On request, the guide can accompany you to the nearby Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi, one of the most renowned pizzerias in the city, where - if you want - you can end the morning enjoying a superb traditional Neapolitan pizza (lunch not included). It will be the worthy conclusion of a journey full of discoveries and authentic Neapolitanism, which will leave in your eyes and in your heart the colors and smiles of this unforgettable corner of Naples.

A guided urban tour of about 2.5 hours, perfect for those who want to discover the Rione Sanità in a short time, without an in-depth visit to the catacombs. An immersion in the most authentic and lively Naples awaits you: you will walk through alleys teeming with life and squares where children play, you will admire surprising baroque churches nestled in popular neighborhoods and historic buildings that sprout among modern buildings. Our local guide will make you feel like a local, telling you stories, curiosities and anecdotes that only those who live in healthcare know. Even if you do not descend into the subsoil of the catacombs, you will be able to understand their importance through stories and to appreciate from the outside the symbolic places of the cult of the dead. It will be an agile journey full of stops to observe, take photographs and perhaps interact with the merchants and residents of the neighborhood, always ready to exchange a joke. Expect to involve all the senses: Neapolitan folklore will envelop you with the dialect sounds of the market, the sight of votive newsstands full of flowers and candles, the inviting scent of culinary specialties at every corner. In short, you will live an experience with a genuine flavor, between culture, history and local gastronomy — a taste of the soul of Naples that you will carry with you for a long time.

- Enabled Private Guide dedicated to your group (up to 15 people) in Italian (for other languages on request).

- Personalized walking tour through the Rione Sanità and Borgo dei Vergini, with explanations and storytelling throughout the route.
(Note: This experience does not include paid entrances, so entrance tickets are not necessary for the sites visited as we will only admire them from the outside.)

- Entrance tickets to sites that may be accessible internally (for example Catacombs, Fontanelle Cemetery), as they are not included in the tour and are not included in the itinerary.

- Transportation to/from the meeting point (the tour takes place entirely on foot in the neighborhood).

- Food and drinks: snacks, tastings and drinks during the break (coffee, “snowflake”, water, etc.) are not included in the price — each participant is free to buy what they want during breaks.

- Tips for driving (at the discretion of the participant) and anything not expressly indicated in the “What's included” section.

- Since this is a private tour, the price is for the entire group (up to 15 participants), regardless of the number of people — ideal for couples, families or small groups of friends who want a more intimate experience.

- Book a little in advance: if you book less than 48 hours in advance, the confirmation will be subject to the availability of guides at the time (especially in high season). If the date/time chosen is not available, we will offer you an alternative solution or a full refund.

- Cancellations: you can cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before the start of the tour (100% refund). For cancellations notified after this deadline (within 48 hours of departure) we apply a penalty of 30% on the total cost.

- Available languages: the visit takes place in Italian; if you want a guide in another language (English is the main language of our site, but also French, Spanish, German, are available), indicate this at the time of booking — we will do our best to satisfy you (service subject to the availability of multilingual guides).

- Clothing & footwear: we recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes. The tour takes place on the street on ancient pavement and may include stairs or uphill and downhill sections, so sports shoes or without heels are ideal. If necessary, bring a hat and sunscreen with you in the summer months, or an umbrella in case of uncertain weather.

- Hydration: always keep a bottle of water handy, especially on hot days — you can fill it up at the public fountains in the neighborhood.

- Photography: Healthcare offers extraordinary photographic ideas! Bring your camera or make sure your smartphone is charged: you'll want to photograph the murals, the monumental staircases, the smiles of the locals and maybe stop the chaotic atmosphere of the market in one shot. But remember to be respectful when photographing people and places of worship.

- Curiosity and open-mindedness: set out to explore a real and sincere working-class neighborhood. The guide will help you to interact with the context in an appropriate way, a smile and a 'good morning' in Italian will always be appreciated. Get ready to discover unusual and authentic aspects: this tour will enrich you not only with knowledge, but also with sincere emotions.