San Francesco di Paola, Naples

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Basilica of San Francesco di Paola Basilica di San Francesco di Paola (in Italian)
The church of San Francesco di Paola
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
District	Archdiocese of Naples
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor basilica
Location
Location	Naples, Campania, Italy
Geographic coordinates	40°50′07″N 14°14′51″E / 40.835296°N 14.247471°E / 40.835296; 14.247471
Architecture
Type	Church
Style	Neoclassical

San Francesco di Paola is a prominent church located to the west in Piazza del Plebiscito, the main square of Naples, Italy. The construction started in 1816 and ended in 1846.

In the early 19th century, King Joachim Murat of Naples (Napoleon's brother-in-law) planned the entire square and the large building with the colonnades as a tribute to the emperor. When Napoleon was finally dispatched, the Bourbons were restored to the throne of Naples. Ferdinand I continued the construction - finished in 1846 - but converted the final product into the church one sees today. He dedicated it to Saint Francis of Paola, who had stayed in a monastery on this site in the 16th century.

The church is reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome. The façade is fronted by a portico resting on six columns and two Ionic pillars. Inside, the church is circular with two side chapels. The dome is 53 metres (174 ft) high. The portico is by Neapolitan architect Leopoldo Laperuta, while the main building is by the Swiss architect Pietro Bianchi [it].^[1]