Naples - Santa Maria Maggiore o Pietrasanta by Mark Sukhija

The Christian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was built in 533 by the then Bishop of Naples San Pomponio on the ruins of a Roman building.

The name of "Pietrasanta" began to be used in the 17th Century as a stone inside was believed to grant indulgences to whoever kissed it.

During the 17th Century, Cosimo Fanzago started the reconstruction of the church with a large dome to which the tile and the majicola floor was added later in the 18th Century.

The Campanile, meters away, dates from the 10th and 11th Centuries and is the oldest in the city.

Related Posts

Campania - Bay of Naples and Mt Vesuvius View of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius in the background from Castel Sant'Elmo
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Genoa - pictures from TBE12 Pictures of Genoa taken during the travel blog elevator in 2012
Ancient Rome - 8 must see highlights Must see ancient monuments around Rome
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Map

Further reading

Campania - Bay of Naples and Mt Vesuvius - View of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius in the background from Castel Sant'Elmo

Napoli - view from Sant'Elmo - View of the Napoli skyline seen from the descent from Castel Sant'Elmo

Genoa - pictures from TBE12 - Pictures of Genoa taken during the travel blog elevator in 2012

Rome - Case Romane del Celio - Case Romane del Celio, The Roman Houses beneath the church of Ss. Giovannu and Paolo

Ancient Rome - 8 must see highlights - Must see ancient monuments around Rome

Italy - 10 places not to miss - 10 places you shouldn't miss in Italy

Rome - 14 things not to miss - My personal advise on what to do and see in Rome

Getting to Rome - How to get to Rome

Rome - St Peters Basilica - View of the Vaticans Basilica San Pietro in central Rome

Rome - skyline of Rome with the Vatican Library - Roman skyline with the Vatican Library in the background

Napoli Unplugged - Hyperlocal blog about Naples and the surrounding area

Key facts

Name: Santa Maria Maggiore o Pietrasanta
Address:
Via dei Tribunali, Napoli, Italy

About Mark Sukhija

Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook