Biblioteca di Ricerca Area Umanistica (BRAU) is the university library of the Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici of the University of Naples Federico II. It was established in 2009 but Neapolitan

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

building dates back to 1564, designed by Paola Cappellani. It is located in Piazza Bellini in the historic city-centre of Naples, Italy.

History

The building, whose name is ''Sant'Antoniello a Port'Alba'' was founded as a convent in 1564 by sister Paola Cappellani. The monastery was expanded by annexing the neighbouring palazzo of the Principi di Conca – this closed off the original facade from public access, although the remains of the original doorway are still visible. The present 18th-century facade was built at the same time as the building's large two-ramp staircase. After a recent restoration, the building was purchased by the University of Naples Federico II. From January 26th, 2009, it became the location for BRAU, the humanities research library of the university.

Interior architecture and decoration

The architecture and interior decoration of the library follow the style, especially thanks to the stucco works completed by

Arcangelo Guglielmelli Arcangelo Guglielmelli (1723) was an Italian architect and painter, active in his native Naples, Italy, in a late-Baroque style. He was involved in the building and reconstruction of churches, many of which had been damaged by the earthquakes of ...

to restore the church in 1684. The altar is marble, with inset pearl. For a while, the main altar's painting was Bernardo Cavallino's ''Santa Cecilia in estasi'' but, after several controversies, the work was moved to the Museo di Capodimonte. On the side altars, there are more canvas paintings like ''San Giuseppe'' by and

Ferdinando Castiglia Ferdinando Castiglia (died 1521) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Bagnoregio (1500–1521). ''(in Latin)'' ''(in Latin)'' Biography On 4 May 1500, Ferdinando Castiglia was appointed during the papacy of Pope Alexander VI as B ...

's ''San Filippo Benizi''. The ceiling depicts a painting of Saint Anthony, completed in the 1700s by an unknown Mannerist. There is also a wooden statue of

Saint Michael Archangel Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...

from the 18th century.

Bibliography

External links

Official website
{{coord missing, Italy University of Naples Federico II Academic libraries in Italy Libraries established in 2009