Hidden Foundations: Exploring the Earliest Churches of Naples

Early Christian Sites of Naples, Italy

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• Hidden Foundations: Exploring the Earliest Churches of Naples

On my visit to Naples, I did not know what to expect. I previously visited Istanbul and Ravenna and saw many ancient churches. Yet, I was quite blown away by seeing churches that were, for the most part, 200 years earlier than the numerous 6th-century churches in these other cities. Along with Rome, Naples has numerous early Christian sites, dating from the 4th century or earlier. This list of the earliest Christian sites in Naples begins mainly in the 4th century, with some dating to an earlier century. Let’s try to find these hidden foundations.

Walking the Earliest Christian Sites in Naples

Most of the 4th-century sites are found in the center of the city, while the 3rd-century Catacombs are in the northern hilly section of the city. I have put together two walking tours on this map – one from San Gennaro to the center, while the other focuses on the oldest churches in the city.

The Earliest Christian Sites in Naples – 3rd Century

By the 3rd century AD, strong cumulative evidence shows Christianity was already established in the Naples region, even though literary sources remain limited. The clearest proof is archaeological: the earliest phases of the Catacombs of San Gennaro began as a burial area in the 2nd–3rd century. The expansion of these underground cemeteries demonstrates an organized Christian population large enough to require dedicated communal burial space.

Inscriptions and funerary formulas preserved in the catacomb complex include names, epitaphs, and short Christian phrases, such as prayers for peace and rest. These match the broader pattern of early Christian epigraphy in Italy. Believers distinguished themselves by using explicitly Christian language rather than pagan dedicatory formulas.

In addition, Naples’ position within the Roman port network (especially through nearby Puteoli/Pozzuoli) makes a historically plausible Christian presence very early. Since Acts 28 already shows a Christian community in that port in the 1st century, by the 3rd century, such coastal trade centers had become hubs of Christian expansion. Finally, scholarly epigraphic work on the San Gennaro catacomb inscriptions confirms that the site preserves a developing Christian burial culture whose earliest layers plausibly fall into the 3rd-century growth period of Christianity across southern Italy, even before Constantine’s legalization.^[1]https://catacombedinapoli.it/en/luoghi/catacombs-of-san-gennaro-naples

The tour at this site is well worth the visit, and I can walk from there to the city center. A very interesting aspect of the Catacombs is how they honor two women who seem to have served faithfully in their 3rd-century community.

Earliest Christian sites in Naples – 4th Century

For these 4th-century early Basilicas, I will start with the one closest to the Train station and make my way Southwest to near the Port.

Basilica di San Pietro de Aram

I will use the Italian names since most references online use their original names, and Italy has some great write-ups on each of these churches, which will most likely be the first results of any searches. This church’s name means “St. Peter at the Altar,” which hosts a cellar catacomb area where the first church also stood. Also, they claim Peter visited there and used the well in the lower area. The tradition is that the first “mass” or communion in Europe was celebrated there. However, based on the book of Acts, we know that the first believers were baptized in Phillipi and most likely celebrated the breaking of bread together (Acts 16:13-15).

At this church, my visit was a guess to where things were. After my visit, I realized that I had taken a picture of the Altar area of Peter (below). Also, I read somewhere that the crypt was open from 5 to 7 pm on Monday, and so I showed up then. I waited a bit, and then a lady came to open up the lower level.

On the main floor is the Altar of Peter, where within the pillars sits decorative legs to a small table. This area is the one claimed to go back to Peter’s mass in Naples. History states that this church goes back to the 4th century and most like the lower level then. The current building is from the 17th century but the lower level is from ancient church of Santa Candida.

Fortunately, I visited below, but they did not want pictures to be taken of the multiple boxes of bones. (I took one before realizing this; it is below.

Ossuaries (collections of bones) originated from early Christian cemeteries and catacombs that were disturbed or reorganized over centuries. Bones were typically removed from communal burial galleries like San Gennaro and San Gaudiosus when tombs were cleared due to overcrowding, collapse, renovations, or church construction.

Rather than being discarded, these remains were gathered into church ossuaries and cemeteries for both practical and religious reasons. Christians treated bones with reverence, believing in bodily resurrection, and they especially preserved the remains of martyrs, clergy, or holy people. Burial near sacred sites was spiritually important, and bone collections also reminded the faithful of mortality and hope in resurrection.

A visit to Naples makes one wonder about the afterlife and how to view the world of the dead. I know the promises of God that he has given to us who know Christ. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, God has prepared indescribable blessings, spiritual assurance, and eternal rewards for those who love Him. To guess or fearfully look at the afterlife is not how God designed believers to live. God tells us, based on His Word and His Spirit dwelling within us, that He will illuminate the truths for us.