Complesso Museale di San Lorenzo Maggiore

San Lorenzo Maggiore gives you two attractions in one: a beautiful 13th-century Gothic church upstairs and genuine Roman ruins below street level. The underground excavations reveal the ancient macellum (market) of Neapolis, complete with Roman shops, a bakery, and treasury rooms that look exactly as they did 2,000 years ago. You're literally walking through the economic heart of ancient Naples, with medieval foundations built directly on top of Roman walls.

The visit starts in the church above, where Gothic arches soar overhead and you can see where Boccaccio supposedly met his muse Fiammetta. Then you descend into the cool underground passages where Roman brick archways frame ancient shop fronts and storage rooms. The contrast hits you immediately: one moment you're in medieval Naples, the next you're stepping onto Roman paving stones. Audio guides explain each room's purpose, from bread ovens to coin storage areas.

Most visitors rush through the church to get to the ruins, but spend time with both levels. The Roman sections can feel repetitive after 20 minutes, so focus on the main market hall and bakery area rather than every small room. At 9 EUR for adults, it's reasonably priced for what you get. Skip the gift shop completely, it's overpriced postcards and plastic replicas.