Travelling along Spaccanapoli across Naples, there are many sights to see and a major one is the 13th century church of San Domenico Maggiore, located on the piazza of the same name. It incorporates an event older church into its design, the 10th century San Michele Arcangelo a Morfisa. The monastery adjoining the church was the original home of the University of Naples, the oldest public non-religious university in the world, with famous graduates including Saint Thomas Aquinas himself.

Much of the newer elements and upgrades in the church can be attributed to the famous Cosimo Fanzago, perhaps the most renowned Baroque architect and sculptor in Naples. The centre of the piazza contains of the Spires of Naples, also known as “plague columns,” erected in honour of the ending of the plague in Naples. The one here is dedicated to San Domenico, and was designed by Fanzago.

Fanzago also designed the Sacred Relics Chamber, perhaps the most famous and visited part of the church, built in 1690 with the purpose of preserving the bodies and body parts (mostly the hearts) of rulers of Naples, many of them from the Aragonese family, and other objects sacred to the Dominican Order. Sadly, much of it was destroyed in the French occupation of 1800 but, after being closed until the year 2000, the Chamber reopened, once again enabling the public to immerse in the important history of Naples. All in all, there are 45 sepulchres of the royal Aragonese family in the sacristy of the church.

Those who are interested in the history of Naples cannot avoid learning about the powerful Aragons, and going to the Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore.