The Chiesa dell'Annunziata is Baroque-style

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

church in the municipality of Sessa Aurunca, province of Caserta, in the region of Campania, southern

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. The church, dedicated to the Virgin of the Annunciation, lies in the historic central district of the town.

History

The church was built in the late 15th century by the guild of the conciari and calzolari. The main plan of this church has been retained, including it Greek-cross plan despite reconstruction in the 17th century. The façade is divided in to orders with two lateral bell-towers. The reconstruction of the façade was attributed to

Domenico Antonio Vaccaro Domenico Antonio Vaccaro (June 3, 1678 – June 13, 1745) was an Italian painter, sculptor and architect. He created many important sculptural and architectural projects in Naples. His later works are executed in an individualistic Rococo s ...

, but the only documents known mention works by a

Giuseppe Astarita Giuseppe Astarita (Naples, 1707 – Naples, 1775) was an Italian architect and engineer of the late- Baroque or Rococo period. He was a pupil of Domenico Antonio Vaccaro and collaborated with Ferdinando Sanfelice; his style is influenced by ...

. The church contains a 15th century painting depicting the Pietà'', originating from the destroyed church of San Biagio. The chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento has the tomb plaque for the Spanish governor don Lope de Herrera (died 1563), carved by

Annibale Caccavello Annibale Caccavello (1515–1595) was an Italian sculptor of the Renaissance, active in his native city of Naples. He trained under Giovanni Merliano (Giovanni da Nola). He was a fellow pupil with Domenico Auria. He participated in the sculptura ...

. The second chapel on the right has a ''Sant’Agata'' (1601) by Vespasiano Friozzo. The main altarpiece is an ''Annunciation'' by

Sebastiano Conca Sebastiano Conca (8 January 1680 – 1 September 1764) was an Italian painter. Biography He was born at Gaeta, then part of the Kingdom of Naples, and apprenticed in Naples under Francesco Solimena. In 1706, along with his brother Giovanni, who ...

. The second chapel on right has a ''St

Leo IX Pope Leo IX (21 June 1002 – 19 April 1054), born Bruno von Egisheim-Dagsburg, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 February 1049 to his death in 1054. Leo IX is considered to be one of the most historically ...

in Glory'', with a view of Sessa, by Antonio Sarnelli. Other altarpieces include the ''Beheading of St John the Baptist'' and an ''Annunciation'' also by Sarnelli. There is an altarpiece depicting ''St Liborio'' di A. D’Elia.Entry in Visita Sessa website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Annunziata Sessa Aurunca Churches in the province of Caserta Baroque architecture in Campania