Spaccanapoli

Name: Spaccanapoli
Address: Via Benedetto Croce, Naples, Naples, IT

Landmarks ·Naples

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About

Spaccanapoli is a straight, narrow street route through Naples, a main tourist promenade in its historic centre.

The full length of the street seen in a straight line from the hilltop in the Quartieri Spagnoli.
The Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo and Basilica di Santa Chiara along the route.
Palazzo Filomarino, Palazzo Venezia and Palazzo Petrucci along the route.

Santa Chiara’s Gothic structureThe basilica regained its Gothic structure after damage in the Second World War.Basilica di Santa Chiara
Palazzo Marigliano and Palazzo PinelliThese Renaissance works are associated with architects Giovanni Francesco Mormando and Giovanni Francesco di Palma.Along Spaccanapoli
Via San Gregorio ArmenoThis street climbs north from Via San Biagio dei Librai to link the lower and main decumani.Junction with Via San Biagio dei Librai

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The route is about two kilometres long and comprises several streets.
Spaccanapoli - Wikipedia
The name means “Naples splitter”: its straight course divides the old city between its northern and southern parts.
Spaccanapoli - Wikipedia
Two monuments along the route are the Obelisco dell’Immacolata and the Obelisco di San Domenico.
Spaccanapoli - Wikipedia

Originally, the route ran from Piazza San Domenico Maggiore to Via Duomo. North–south cardini crossed the decumani to form the ancient city grid.

Greek periodSpaccanapoli follows the southernmost of ancient Neapolis’s three east–west decumani.
Roman eraThe route extended to the area of today’s Piazza del Gesù Nuovo. Roman bath remains beneath the Basilica di Santa Chiara’s cloister attest to that extension.
RenaissanceOlder Gothic structures were remodelled, and new buildings replaced demolished palaces.
16th centuryViceroy Don Pedro de Toledo extended the route towards the hill of San Martino and aligned it with a road through the Quartieri Spagnoli, linking the district with the city centre.
17th and 18th centuriesPrivate and religious buildings along the route underwent extensive alterations.

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On footJoin the traditional route at Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, on Via Benedetto Croce.
On footFor the extended western route, start on Via Pasquale Scura above the Quartieri Spagnoli, beside Chiesa di Santa Maria ad Ogni Bene dei Sette Dolori.

Where

Via Benedetto Croce, Naples

Is Spaccanapoli an official street name?

Spaccanapoli is a popular name. Its central streets include Via Pasquale Scura, Via Benedetto Croce and Via San Biagio dei Librai.

How many sections does the Spaccanapoli decumanus have?

It has three sections.

What are the other ancient east–west routes in Naples called today?

They are Via dei Tribunali, Via Anticaglia and Via della Sapienza.

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