Naples - Church of San Gregorio Armeno

On the Via San Gregorio Armeno is the Church and Monastery of San Gregorio Armeno, go figure? The street is famous for the makers of nativity scenes and all of the pieces that go in them. Some people refer to it as Christmas Alley.

Like all of the other buildings in this section of Naples the church was built on the site of a Roman temple.

One of the most intriguing elements of the complex is the lovely tower perched over the road; a truly beautiful piece of architecture.

And San Gregorio? Well He brought Christianity to Armenia then died of natural causes. In the fifth century his bones ended up all over the place including Naples and the church was founded here to house his relics. The building there now is actually from the 16th century and has a baroque interior that rivals any in Europe with its flamboyant treatment.