You cannot avoid seeing the huge dome of the Basilica di San Francesco di Paola when you visit the Piazza del Plebiscito. Reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome, the basilica uses a similar Neapolitan style for its portico with six columns and two Ionic pillars in front. The the semicircle colonnades on either side at reminiscent of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The dome is huge, 53 metres high, and the church is similarly circular with two side-chapels inside.

Built in the early 19th century under Napoleon’s brother-in-law King Joachim Murat’s rule, the piazza and the church may be centuries younger than some of the sites along the Spaccanapoli, but it shows us a glimpse into the French history of Naples and hosts a number of important sculptures and artwork. This includes sculptures of important saints by eminent neoclassical sculptors including the head of the Naples Academy of Fine Arts at the time.

Many don’t step inside after touring and photographing the Piazza, but anyone who has stepped inside a major basilica in Italy knows they’re missing out. It is a magical experience, and visiting the inside of the San Francesco di Paola is highly recommended as well: not just for the architecture, but for the humbling experience of the respectful quietness of the church, a sharp contrast from the hustle and bustle of the outside.