Spaccanapoli

The road known as "Spaccanapoli", as perfectly divides the historic center in the north and south, is one of the most important streets of the city: ancient less decumano, one of the three streets of the Greek urban plan crossing the entire ancient Neapolis. Between the Middle Ages and the nineteenth century, on this street were built many monasteries and mansions of representation. Spaccanapoli is initially divided into three sections: the ancient stretch that went from Piazza del Gesù Nuovo to current Via Benedetto Croce; the central part, Via St. Biagio of Booksellers, and the last stretch of Via Giudecca Vecchia (a part of Forcella distrect). In the sixteenth century, during the process of territorial expansion towards the hill of St. Martino, the decumano was aligned in an artery of the Spanish Quarters, in order to relate them to the city center; in the nineteenth century, many buildings that face the street were restored to their original Gothic appearance, as well as the Basilica of Santa Chiara. Other important religious buildings that overlook Spaccanapoli are the Church of the Gesu Nuovo and San Domenico Maggiore.