The 17th century apse.

The Cathedral is the main church (or Duomo) of Naples and is dedicated to San Gennaro (or St. Januarius in English), the patron saint of Naples. The church houses a vial of the Saint's blood that is brought out twice a year, on the first Saturday in May and 19 September, and usually liquefies. According to legend if the blood should fail to liquefy, then something bad will happen to Naples. A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Anglican, Catholic and some Lutheran churches, which serves as the central church of a diocese, and thus as a bishops seat. ... Duomo is a generic Italian term for a cathedral church. ... Januarius is the name of a month in the ancient Roman calendar, called January in English. ...

The church was commissioned by the King Charles I of Anjou. Construction continued during the reign of his successor, Charles II (1285-1309) and was completed in the early 14th century under Robert of Anjou. It was built on the foundations of two palaeo-Christian basilicas, whose traces can still be clearly seen. Underneath of the church, excavations have revealed Greek and Roman artifacts. These excavations can be visited from 0900 - 1200 and 1630 - 1900, and during holidays from 0900 - 1200. Charles I (March 1227 - January 7, 1285) was the posthumous son of King Louis VIII of France, created Count of Anjou by his elder brother King Louis IX in 1246, thus founding the second Angevin dynasty. ... Charles II, known as the Lame (Fr. ... King Robert I of Naples a. ...

The main attractive of the interior is the Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius, with frescoes by Domenichino and Giovanni Lanfranco, altarpieces by Domenichino, Massimo Stanzione, Jusepe Ribera, the rich high altar by Francesco Solimena and other artworks, including a reliquiary by 14th century French masters. Domenico Zampieri (or Domenichino) (October 21, 1581 - April 15, 1641), Italian painter, born at Bologna, was the son of a shoemaker. ... Giovanni Lanfranco (born: 26 January 1582, Parma, Italy - died: 30 November 1647, Rome) was an Italian baroque painter. ... Solimenas magisterial self-portrait, 1730 Francesco Solimena (Canale di Serino, near Avellino, October 4, 1657— Barra, near Naples, April 3, 1747) was a prolific Italian painter of the Baroque era, one of an established family of painters and draughtsmen. ...

Other artworks include an Assumption by Pietro Perugino, canvasses by Luca Giordano and the palaeo-christian baptistery, with mosaics from the 4th century. The main chapel is a restoration of the 18th century, with a Baroque relief by Pietro Bracci. Self-portrait, 1497-1500. ... The creation of man, fresco in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Florence, 1684-1686. ...

The façade was reworked by Enrico Alvino in the late 19th century, but has mantained the 15th century portal, including some sculptured by Tino da Camaino.

The Cathedral is the see of the Archbishop of Naples. The current titular is Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe. Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe (born June 2, 1943) is an Italian Cardinal and Archbishop of Naples. ...

External links

• Official website

Naples landmarks

Albergo dei Poveri | Cappella Sansevero | Castel dell'Ovo | Castel Nuovo | Gesù Nuovo  | Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte  | Royal Palace | Posillipo | San Domenico Maggiore  | Cathedral  | National Archaeological Museum (Naples) | Santa Chiara | Piazza del Plebiscito | San Martino | Galleria Umberto | Sant'Elmo | Teatro San Carlo | Country Italy Region Campania Province Naples (NA) Mayor Rosa Russo Jervolino Elevation 17 m Area 117 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 1,000,470  - Density 8,457/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Napoletani Dialing code 081 Postal code 80100 Patron Saint Januarius  - Day September... Originally, a landmark literally meant a geographic feature used by explorers and others to find their way back or through an area. ... Image File history File links Napoli-Stemma. ... Castel dellOvo. ... Castel Nuovo. ... The Museum of Capodimonte (Museo di Capodimonte), housed in a grand Bourbon palazzo in Naples, Italy, is the prime repository of Neapolitan and Italian cultural heritage in the city. ... Mount Vesuvius as seen from Posillipo Posillipo is a residential quarter of Naples, called Pusilleco in the Neapolitan language. ... Piazza del Plebiscito is one of the principal public squares in the historic center of Naples, Italy. ...