The fire, which is thought to have started in an apartment block in the city's fashionable Chaia neighbourhood, quickly spread to the nearby Sannazaro Theatre, Sky Italia reported.
Firefighters were still working to put out the blaze on Tuesday morning.
No one was seriously injured, though at least four residents were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
Around 30 families have been evacuated from their homes, the paper said.
🔥Incendio al Teatro Sannazaro di Napoli.
— Italia 24H Live 🔴 – Notizie dall'Italia (@Italia24HLive) February 17, 2026
Coinvolte anche abitazioni vicine, da cui é in corso l’evacuazione dei residenti. In corso operazioni di 5 squadre dei Vigili del Fuoco. Foto di Tommaso Ederoclite. pic.twitter.com/yDELngQzv1
The dome of the theatre, which dates back to the 1800s, has completely caved in, and some nearby buildings have been damaged.Â
Residents told Italian news agency Ansa that the area was thick with smoke.Â
"We've been awake since five o'clock, there's a massive cloud," one person said.
"We're at home with handkerchiefs over our noses."Â
Naples resident and political commentator Tommaso Ederoclite said he first noticed the flames "around 6:45 am."
"The situation is dangerous, the air is unbreathable," he said.
"It's important to leave the surrounding homes and apartments. You can see the smoke coming out of the Sannazaro Theatre."
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