Among the various epithets with which Naples is known in the world, also it appears as the "city of 500 domes ". And the reason is esplica only giving few steps in one of the most attractive historic centers of the world: we realize the physical and spiritual presence of religion in a city that, actually, He is always between the sacred and the profane, between blind devotion and pure spell. All that is filled with an even more esoteric flavor with the impressive number of churches desecrated: Gothic architecture buildings, baroque and neoclassical representing a historical heritage, artistic and cultural that must protect and, upside down, It is often in a state of degradation and neglect. The following is a route through the deconsecrated church of Decumani Neapolitans, in the hope that these wonderful works of art and architecture can return to glow deserve.
Our itinerary begins with iglesia de San Giorgio dei Genovesi, in via Medina. The building was built by the Genoese community living in the Kingdom of Naples in the first half of the sixteenth century. Genoveses wanted to match the Venetians who had the exclusive patronage of the embassy VENETA in Spaccanapoli. The structure is typically Baroque and rises above a staircase made in the seventeenth century: inside a lot of artwork is saved, the most famous of which is the picture Anthony resurrects a dead de Battistello Caracciolo, In addition to paintings by Giacomo Cestaro and Andrea da Salerno.
Built by the Somaschi friars between 1706 and 1725, the chapel was closed in the nineteenth century
Leaving the back street Medina and approaching towards the belly of the city, among the narrow alleys that lead up to the Decumani, emerge a few meters away from one another, three very peculiar churches: first, in Here a road, is the church Santi Demetrio e Bonifacio. Built by the Somaschi friars between 1706 and 1725, the chapel was closed in the nineteenth century with the suppression of religious orders and 1821 It was granted to a congregation of students by the Archbishop's Curia of Naples. Then it was acquired by the Faculty of architecture of the University of Naples «Federico II» who uses it for seminars, exhibitions and conferences. Inside three paintings of the eighteenth century are saved: St. Demetrios and St. Boniface, the Madonna and Child and i Saint Paul the Hermit, Leonardo Abate and Ignatius Martyr.
The second, in long Banchi Nuovi, is the iglesia de Santi Cosma e Damiano. The long It owes its name to merchant banks who called the area "Banchi Nuovi" (new banks) after the flood 1569 and reconstruction of the neighborhood. The name remained although the market was abandoned and the Marquis Alfonso Sances di Grottola sold the area to the COMPANY of 'Barbieri. They built the church dedicated to Saints Cosma and Damiano in 1616 and they expanded the building throughout the seventeenth century.
The facade can be noticed arches banks of the sixteenth century, the portal and antique shops beneath the large window of the eighteenth century. Above the altar is wearing a fabric Donzelli and a second work presumed to be of the school of Luca Giordano. Unfortunately the church is now in a state of total abandonment: the long It has become the football field scugnizzi (the neighborhood kids), with the entrance of the church as a goal ...
It has become the football field scugnizzi (the neighborhood kids), with the entrance of the church as goal
The third church is the Chapel Pappacoda, in Largo San Giovanni Maggiore, very close to the homonymous Basilica and in front of Palazzo Giusso, historic headquarters of the University of Naples "L’Orientale", which uses the chapel for graduation ceremonies. And 1415 Artusio Pappacoda, advisor to King Ladislao I of Anjou, He wanted to erect a burial chamber and today their descendants are stored inside the tombs of Angelo Pappacoda, Bishop of Martorano and Sigismondo Pappacoda, bishop of Tropea.
The chapel has been restored many times over the centuries, involving the loss of some artwork and several frescoes on the walls. The gateway, Gothic style, It characterized by the allegories of Jesus with the Evangelists and the Virgin between San Juan Bautista and San Juan Evangelista. Above, a chorus of angels, shines the blazon of the kings of Anjou.
Going up via Mezzocannone and overcoming the square San Domenico Maggiore, in The way Sanctis arises Sansevero chapel, deconsecrated church near the palace family of the princes of Sansevero. The chapel was established as a burial temple by Giovanni Sangro (1590), then renewed by his son Alessandro (1610) and artistically decorated by Raimondo.
And it's about Raimondo di Sangro that has produced a multitude of legends: in 1753 "Prince pattern" Giuseppe Sammartino commissioned work the Veiled Christ, known throughout the world for the marble mantilla almost lies over the Dead Christ. It is told that Prince Raimondo had "marbled" the veil of Christ through a alchemical process performed in the underground palace Sansevero and had then ordered the Sammartino blind so he could not realizir an extraordinary sculpture for other. From Antonio Canova - that would have given ten years of life for the sculptor - until Marqés de Sade and Matilde Serao, Many visitors three centuries before the splendor and mysteries remain wordless winding the veiled Christ and the chapel Sansevero.
He had ordered the Sammartino blind so he could not realizir an extraordinary sculpture for other
Walking through the Decumano lower address Via San Biagio dei Booksellers, coming into Vico Paparelle Pendino, is the iglesa de Santa Maria della Stella to Paparelle. In the characteristic style of the Neapolitan Renaissance (1519), the small church had to receive the mortal remains of Francesco Mormando, celebrated architect of the sixteenth century. Then the chapel was part of the school built by Lucia Paparo: hence the name refers to the name that the Neapolitans gave guests college, called "Paparelle".
Santa Maria della Stella It is nestled between tall buildings, low level street pavement: the stone facade has a pediment with a circular window in the center that gives light to the internal environment. Today the church belongs to the Curia of Naples, although he is currently in the hands of the National Institute of Studies on the Southern Renaissance.
Nostra route concludes in Piazzetta Sant'Andrea delle Dame, where, near the hospital of Incurable, a church bearing three names rises: Santa Maria Intercede, Sant'Aniello Caponapoli the Sant'Agnello Maggiore. According to tradition, This is the church where he is buried Sant'Aniello, Bishop of Naples in the sixth century, defender of the city during the siege of Longobardi and holy protector of the Bourbon reign.
Unfortunately for centuries the church has undergone many thefts and vandalism
It is said that in the same place their parents did build a small church dedicated to Santa Maria Intercede to thank the Virgin birth of the child; then, in the ninth century, Bishop Athanasius did erect a new temple that had to receive the saint's relics. Unfortunately for centuries the church has suffered many robberies and vandalism against works of great value as the high altar, masterpiece Girolamo Santacroce (1524). The building is left over the antigiua acropolis of Neapolis and therefore it is possible to see the urban historical stratification since the time of the Greek foundation until today.
Estos y muchos otros lugares encerrados en las angostas travesías de Nápoles siguen alimentando las fantasias y las creencias populares desde siglos. Sitios que celan un pasado misterioso e insondable hecho de personajes legendarios, antiguas maldiciones, cerimonias esotéricas, logias masónicas y rituales supersticiosos. That's why the city of Partenope captures the imagination and dreams of travelers who want to relive the charm of "authentic", the "unusual", the "extraordinary" and expect to go a hypothetical contemporary Grand Tour: fortunately they are almost never disappointed.
