Santa Maria della Sapienza
| Santa Maria della Sapienza | |
|---|---|
 facade |
|
| Start of building: | 1625 |
| Builder : | Giacomo Di Conforto |
| Architect : | Francesco Grimaldi |
| Location: | 40 ° 51 '3.8 " N , 14 ° 15' 7.4" E |
| Address: | Via Costantinopoli Naples , Campania , Italy |
| Purpose: | Roman Catholic Marienkirche |
Santa Maria della Sapienza is a church in the historic center of Naples . It is in Via Costantinopoli.
history
The church was built in 1625 according to a plan by Francesco Grimaldi , but the work was carried out by Giacomo Di Conforto. The latter finished his work in 1630 and left the construction site to the engineer Orazio Gisolfo.
Many other architects also worked during this period, including Cosimo Fanzago and Dionisio Lazzari, who worked on the facade of the church. From many sources of this period it is reported that the actual design of the exterior is attributed to Fanzago, while the ornaments of Lazzari are made of white marble. Regarding the design of the facade, however, it should be noted that other sources refer to Giovan Giacomo Di Conforto instead.
Between 1634 and 1636 work began on the construction of the dome and the bell tower. Giacomo Lazzari contributed to the realization of the dome with the creation of a small lantern painted by Belisario Corenzio .
The monastery attached to the church was demolished at the end of the 19th century to make way for the construction of the hospital behind the building.
description
The interior consists of a single nave and side chapels, is decorated with colored marble by Dionisio Lazzari and helpers. Other parts of the church are also from Lazzari: the floor is made of white marble and slate , similar to the church of San Gregorio Armeno . The choir, which consists of white marble squares and slate corners, is also by the latter artist and helper.
The frescoes in the vault and apse are by Cesare Fracanzano, while the 18th century tympanum features two angels by Paolo Benaglia. The partially destroyed frescoes on the dome are by Belisario Corenzio . The paintings on wood and canvas were painted by various artists, such as For example: Massimo Stanzione , Andrea Vaccaro , Micco Spadaro , Hendrick van Somer, Teodoro d'Errico , Giovanni Bernardo Lama, Girolamo Imparato, Giovanni Bernardino Azzolino, Carlo Rosa, Giovanni Ricca, Giovan Vincenzo Forlì, Giuseppe Marullo, Girolamo Cenatiempo, Gian Giacomo Manecchia, Michele Ragolia, Giacinto de Popoli. All these works, properly removed, can now be seen in some municipal museums or are in the depots of the Sovrintendenza .
The church also contains another chapel: the Cappella della Scala Santa.
La Sapienza Church has been closed for decades and needs to be restored. It was opened on the occasion of the “Maggio dei monumenti” in 2005, which led to a partial deterioration both artistically and architecturally due to water ingress and moisture damage.
Most recently, Mibac has provided funds to complete the restoration work and return this important monument in the historic center of Naples to the municipality.
literature
- Vincenzo Regina: Le chiese di Napoli. Viaggio indimenticabile attraverso la storia artistica, architettonica, letteraria, civile e spirituale della Napoli sacra . Newton e Compton editore, Naples 2004 (Italian).
