In the “New Jesus” square, there are three prominent landmarks: the Church of Gesù Nuovo, the Church of Santa Chiara, and the spire dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The square is located just outside the western boundary of the historic city center, Spaccanapoli.

The square was expanded during the city’s reconstruction in the 16th century by the viceroy Pedro Álvarez de Toledo.

The spire of the Immaculate Conception (Guglia dell’Immacolata) is a monument standing in the square opposite the church with the pointed bricks. It is the tallest and most ornate of the three plague columns in Naples. It was built to protect the city from outbreaks of plague with the help of the Virgin Mary.

Construction began in the 17th century and was only completed in 1750 after decades of interruptions. Its rich Baroque decoration is a prime example of Neapolitan Baroque style.

On the spire is a relief depicting Jesus in the temple, the birth of the Virgin Mary, and the Annunciation.

Every year on December 8th, a representative of the firefighters climbs the spire and places a crown of flowers on the statue’s head in honor of the Immaculate Conception. The statue is 30 meters tall.