One of Naples’ oldest churches, Santa Maria Maggiore was erected in the 6th century on the remains of a Roman building. A colonnaded atrium marked the churchyard, where there was a small altar with the consecration stone, hence the name Pietrasanta. The corner bell tower (11th–12th century) is the city’s oldest and incorporates reused elements (spolia). Cosimo Fanzago rebuilt the church (1653–67) with a Greek cross plan and bold dome. Notable are the beautiful majolica floor by Giuseppe Massa (1764) and the remains of the mosaic pavement of the basilica in the underground chambers.

Installation n°. 540