Piazza del Plebiscito is without doubt the most famous square of Naples, but also the largest and the most scenic. The semicircular portico was built in 1809 and completed a few years later, with the monumental Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, erected by Ferdinand I (the King of Naples at that time). The church dominates the square with its imposing neoclassical structure - similar to the Pantheon in Rome – and the great dome.
On the opposite side of the square, towards the sea, is the enchanting Royal Palace, one of the four residences used by the royal family of the Bourbons of Naples. It was built in 1600 by Domenico Fontana, but over the centuries it was repeatedly transformed and enriched with decorations and with a roof garden.
In the focal points of Piazza del Plebiscito are located the two equestrian statues made by Antonio Canova. Especially picturesque is the view of the Gulf of Naples with the Vesuvius in the distance framed between the Royal Palace and the Palace of the Prefecture.