Veiled Christ in Naples: tickets, opening hours, etc.

The statue of the Veiled Christ is preserved inside the Chapel of Sansevero, also known as the church of Santa Maria della Pietà. This place of worship was born as a modest shrine at the end of the 16th century, but it was only thanks to Prince Raimondo di Sangro that it became the jewel we know today.

The aristocrat was a freemason and alchemist and his contemporaries claimed that flames and infernal lights came out of the basement of his residence. He also commissioned almost all the works of art found inside the church. Therefore, we can say that it is thanks to him if the Sansevero Chapel is one of the must-see attractions what to see and do in Naples

The best option

Naples Veiled Christ Guided Tour

Learn about the value of this essential sculpture of Naples from an expert guide.

Without a doubt, this guided tour is worthwhile, as you will discover the history of the Veiled Christ and also take a tour of the city with the guide.

From $93 at Hellotickets

Thanks to this guided tour of the Veiled Christ of Naples you will understand the historical importance and artistic value behind Sanmartino's masterpiece. The guide who will accompany you during the tour of approximately 3 hours will tell the stories and legends behind this sculpture.

In addition to analyzing and contemplating the figure of Jesus Christ and his marble veil in the Chapel of Sansevero, with this tour you can visit other churches in the city and get to know corners that, if you go on your own, might go unnoticed.

Recommended if... Like me, you prefer to be told the details of the most important monuments in the cities I visit. Understanding the context and the history behind them makes the places where I travel remain engraved in my memory and I enjoy them much more.

A standard ticket costs 8 €, a more than affordable amount for such a work of art.

If you are traveling with people between 10 and 25 years old, the price to pay will be 5 €. Finally, if you are traveling with children under 10 years old, you will be pleased to know that the ticket is free.

My advice is to try to get them in advance. To do so, just go to the official website of the San Severo museum, although you will have to pay an additional 2 € for the fee.

The hermitage does not have a service of official guides in the enclosure but several tourist agencies make up for the lack. This is the case of Hellotickets, which offers this guided visit to the Veiled Christ of Naples, which also includes a tour of the city to get to know other iconic places.

From my point of view, it is worth hiring a tour to discover the stories of the statues and the unique life of Prince Raimondo di Sangro. The time of the visit depends on the Cicerone but, in general, it lasts about an hour.

If after the visit you want to stay in the area, you have plenty to choose from. Within walking distance of the chapel is the Lapis Museum (a path through the ancient cisterns of a Roman aqueduct), the Gothic-Angevin Church of San Domenico Maggiore and access to subway Naples.

You can buy tickets at the museum itself but I don't advise it. It is a very coveted destination and there is usually a queue. In addition, there is a capacity and you could run the risk of being left out. Buy tickets in advance to avoid any unforeseen events.

Unfortunately, no. In the city as well as in the region, the most famous and widely used card is The Naples Pass but it does not include the Sansevero Chapel.

Fortunately, the price of a single ticket is reduced, 8 €, especially compared to the rates of other attractions in Naples and other cities in Italy.

The famous statue depicting Jesus is located in the Sansevero Chapel, a temple with numerous esoteric and religious symbols.

It is located in the heart of Naples (Via Francesco de Sanctis 19/21) and is easy to reach by subway. The Dante and Duomo stops (both on line 1) are less than a ten-minute walk away.

You can also opt for the Cavour stop (line 2). If you prefer to travel on the surface, the options are as follows:

• Trolleybus. Line 202 stops at Corso Umberto I, right in front of Federico II University. From here it is enough to walk about ten minutes. For more information I recommend you to have a look at the official website of the local transport company.
• Tramway. If you are staying near line 1 you can get off at the stop Marina - Duomo and walk for about 15 minutes.
• Bus, the ideal option if you are moving from the area around the central train station. In this case you should take line 151 and get off at the Marchese Campodisola Il Pomodorino stop. The Sansevero Chapel is about a ten minute walk away.

Are you staying nearby and think that the Sansevero Chapel could be your first destination? Then I recommend you to read the article about transfers between the airport and Naples.

Of course it is! It is never too early to bring the little ones closer to art. The sculpture is one of a kind: no other figure in the world reproduces a fine fabric with such mastery. Your little ones will be impressed by its uniqueness; they won't be able to touch it, but this limitation does not detract from its beauty.

In addition, an audio guide dedicated to children between 6 and 12 years old is also available. In this case, the narrating voice is that of Gennarino, faithful servant of the Prince of Sansevero. Among the languages available is also Spanish while the cost is around 3 €.

If you are interested in other activities with the kids, I recommend you read the post on visits to Pompeii with children. If you prefer to stay in town, you can take them to the Ospedale delle Bambole (a workshop where dolls and stuffed animals are repaired, Via San Biagio Dei Librai 39), rent a rickshaw on the seafront or visit the city of science (Via Coroglio 57/104).

The Veiled Christ is the undisputed protagonist of the church. This extraordinary figure was carved from a single block of stone and is the main work of Giuseppe Sanmartino, an architect who does not have the fame he deserves. The veil is so realistic that some believe it has been marbleized through an alchemical process... However, this piece is not the only attraction of the chapel:

• Cecco di Sangro's tomb, a funeral monument glorifying his most famous exploit. During the Flanders campaign he managed to enter the fortress of Amiens by locking himself in a chest.
• Masonic symbols. The aristocrat Raimondo di Sangro was passionate about esotericism and alchemy. He commissioned the painter Francesco Maria Russo to decorate the chapel of Sansevero with icons typical of these disciplines. The frescoes are magnificently preserved and have never been restored...
• La Pudicizia velata e il Disinganno. They represent the mother and father of Prince Raimondo di Sangro. Like the Christ, also the figure of the mother is covered by a veil while the father holds a net sculpted in great detail.
• Floor-labyrinth. In 1760, the artist Francesco Celebrano created a floor with shades from blue to white. Inside there is a line of white marble and alternating crosses and concentric squares. Unfortunately we cannot fully appreciate Celebrano's work. A landslide at the end of the 19th century almost completely destroyed it.
• Petrified skeletons. According to the legend they were the two servants of the prince

The splendid marble statue created by Giuseppe Sanmartino can be visited all week except Tuesdays. On other days, the Sansevero chapel opens at 9:00 and closes at 19:00.

Please note that the last entrance is about half an hour before closing. To avoid disappointment, it is advisable to book in advance.

It depends on you. You can dedicate 30 minutes or two hours. Keep in mind that the audio guide explanations last approximately 25 minutes.

Another factor that can influence the total time is crowds. The chapel is a must-see stop on any trip in the city of Vesuvius.

The article explains in detail all the information you need. However, there are a few more tips that are very helpful:

• The Sansevero Chapel is a must-see stop. Book tickets in advance or book the guided tour of the Veiled Christ of Naples.
• Inside the museum it is not allowed to take pictures or video recordings.
• If you visit Naples at Christmas you are in luck. The chapel usually hosts a classical music concert. Tickets cost about 50 € and the maximum capacity is about 100 people.
• The visits open the stomach and near the church you will find a typical Neapolitan finger food: il Cuoppo. It is a fried food served in a paper cone and there are many versions. The traditional fritters are fish (anchovies, cod, squid and octopus) and land (with potato croquettes, arancini, battered vegetables and pasta omelettes). The bar is located in Via San Biagio dei Librai 23, a stone's throw from the chapel.