San Pietro a Majella Conservatory
In the vibrant maze of the historic centre, between Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali, lies one of the city’s most extraordinary yet lesser-known treasures: the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory, cradle of Neapolitan music and symbol of a tradition that helped shape the sound of Europe.
Originally a convent, it was transformed into a conservatory in 1826, and today it stands as one of the oldest and most prestigious music institutions in Italy.
But it is more than a place of learning — it is a living archive of genius and passion, a forge where music is not just taught: it is handed down, reinvented, and lived.
The Neapolitan School: a European legacy
The conservatory merged the legacy of Naples’ four historic music schools — Santa Maria di Loreto, Sant’Onofrio a Capuana, Pietà dei Turchini, and Poveri di Gesù Cristo — which in the 17th and 18th centuries made Naples the musical capital of Europe.
Here trained the likes of Scarlatti, Cimarosa, Paisiello, Pergolesi, and many other composers who brought the Neapolitan style across Europe, deeply influencing both opera and sacred music.
The Conservatory has always been — and continues to be — a crossroads between tradition and innovation, between bel canto and experimentation, between rigour and creative flair.
A museum, a library, a world
Beyond its classrooms and studios, the Conservatory houses one of Europe’s most important music libraries, with over 50,000 volumes, rare scores, and ancient manuscripts.
The Museum of Musical Instruments, open to visitors, displays rare pieces that tell the story of instrument making and musical heritage in Naples.
Every room, cloister, and corridor in San Pietro a Majella speaks its own musical language.
A School with a vision for the future
Today, the Conservatory trains musicians, composers, conductors, and performers on the contemporary scene.
It hosts concerts, festivals, and masterclasses open to the public — serving as a bridge between classical music and its audiences, between education and cultural outreach.
