Veiled Christ Tickets and Tours in Naples

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 emanated from the basement of his residence. He also commissioned almost all the works of He baarte inside the church. Therefore, we can say that it is thanks to him that the Sansevero Chapel is a must-see.

The best option

Naples Veiled Christ Guided Tour

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

This guided tour is definitely worthwhile, as you will discover the history of the Veiled Christ and also take a tour of the city with your guide.

From £71 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 approximately 3-hour tour will tell you the stories and legends behind this sculpture.

In addition to analysing and contemplating the figure of Jesus Christ and his marble veil in the Sansevero Chapel, this tour will allow you to visit other churches in the city and discover places 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 I travel to stick in my memory and I enjoy them much more.

The standard ticket costs 8 €, which is more than affordable for such a work of art.

If you are travelling with people aged between 10 and 25, the price to pay is €5. Finally, if you are travelling with children under the age of 10, you will be interested to know that the ticket is free.

My advice is to book a guided tour of the Veiled Christ in advance. You can also purchase your ticket from the official website of the San Severo museum, although you will have to pay an additional €2 in fees.

The hermitage does not have an official guide service on the premises, but several tourist agencies make up for the lack of one. 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 discover other iconic places.

In my opinion, it is worth hiring a tour to discover the stories of the statues and the unique life of Prince Raimondo di Sangro. The tour lasts two hours.

If you want to stay in the area after your visit, you are spoilt for choice. Within walking distance of the chapel is the Lapis Museum (a path that crosses the ancient cisterns of a Roman aqueduct), the Gothic-Gangevine Church of San Domenico Maggiore and the access to the undergrounds of Naples.

You can buy tickets at the museum itself, but I would advise against it. It is a very coveted destination and there is usually a queue. Besides, there is a capacity and you could run the risk of being left out. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid any unforeseen circumstances. And remember that you can book a guided tour of the Veiled Christ.

Unfortunately not. In the city, as well as in the region, the most famous and widely used pass is The Naples Pass but it does not include the Sansevero Chapel.

Fortunately, the entrance fee is not too high compared to other attractions in Naples and other Italian cities.

The famous statue representing Jesus is located in the Sansevero Chapel, a temple with numerous esoteric and religious symbols in the heart of Naples (Via Francesco de Sanctis, 19/21) and is easy to reach by metro. 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). Other 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 for about ten minutes. For more information I recommend you take a look at the official website of the local transport company.
• Tram: if you are staying close to line 1 you can get off at the Marina - Duomo stop and walk for about 15 minutes.
• Bus: the ideal option if you are travelling from the area around the central train station. In this case, 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 guided tour of the Veiled Christ should be your first plan? 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 book a guided tour of the Veiled Christ and bring the little ones closer to the art. The sculpture is unique in its kind: no other figure in the world reproduces a fine fabric with such mastery. They will be impressed by its uniqueness; they will not be able to touch it, but this limitation does not detract from its beauty.

An audio guide is also available for children between 6 and 12 years of age. The narrator is Gennarino, faithful servant of the Prince of Sansevero. Spanish is also available among the available languages. The cost is around 3 €.

If you are interested in other activities with the kids, I recommend you read the post about visiting 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).

If you book a guided tour of the Veiled Christ you will realise that he 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 marbleised 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, the figure of the mother is also covered by a veil while the father holds a net sculpted in great detail.
• Labyrinth-floor: in 1760, the artist Francesco Celebrano created a floor in shades of 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 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 am and closes at 7 pm.

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

It depends on you. You can spend from 30 to two hours. Bear in mind that the audio guide's explanations last approximately 25 minutes, but if you book the guided tour of the Veiled Christ together with a walk through the historic centre you should allow two hours.

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

The Veiled Christ is one of the must-see and do attractions in Naples. The article explains in detail all the information you need to see it. However, there are a few more helpful tips:

• The Sansevero Chapel is a must-see. Book tickets in advance or book a guided tour of the Veiled Christ of Naples. No photography or video recording is allowed inside the museum.
• If you visit Naples at Christmas time, 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 fritters (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.