Santa Maria La Nova, Naples
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Santa Maria la Nova is a
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
style, now-deconsecrated,
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
church and monastery in central
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
. The church is located at the beginning of a side street directly across from the east side of the main post office, a few blocks south of the Church and Monastery of Santa Chiara. Today the adjacent monastery is a meeting site and hosts the Museo ARCA of modern religious art.


History

Since the early 13th century, a
Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...
monastery, named ''Santa Maria ad Palatium'' had existed nearby, but by 1268, was demolished in order for
Charles of Anjou Charles I (early 1226/12277 January 1285), commonly called Charles of Anjou or Charles d'Anjou, was King of Sicily from 1266 to 1285. He was a member of the royal Capetian dynasty and the founder of the House of Anjou-Sicily. Between 1246 a ...
decided to build his
Castel Nuovo Castel Nuovo (; ; 'New Castle'), often called Maschio Angioino (; ; ' Angevin Keep'), is a medieval castle located in front of Piazza Municipio and the city hall ( Palazzo San Giacomo) in central Naples, Campania, Italy. Its scenic location and ...
(new castle), or Maschio Angioino. By 1279, the Friars were granted this site to build a new church, hence ''la Nova''. Initially constructed in
Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...
style, the building was battered by Naple's frequent earthquakes but also suffered gravely from an explosion originating from
Castel Sant'Elmo Castel Sant'Elmo is a medieval fortress located on Vomero Hill adjacent to the Certosa di San Martino, overlooking Naples, Italy. The name "Sant'Elmo" derives from a former 10th-century church dedicated to Sant'Erasmo, shortened to "Ermo" and ...
on December 13, 1587. This last episode prompted reconstruction in 1596-1599, as announced in a cornice inscription, leading to the facade we see today, designed by Agnolo Franco Typical of Franciscan churches, the facade has a sober and simple restraint, accessed through a staircase and balustrade.


Interior

The church nave ceiling is decorated with 46 gilt-framed ''cassetone'', or rectangular fresco panels, completed in 1598-1600. Among the contributing artists were Francesco Curia; Girolamo Imparato (''Assumption of the Virgin'');
Fabrizio Santafede Fabrizio Santafede or Fabrizio Santaféde (c. 1560–1623/28) was an Italian painter known for his altarpieces. He painted in a style that rejected the Mannerism popular in the Naples of his time and evident in the works of Francesco Curia. Life ...
(''Coronation of the Virgin''); Giovanni Bernardino Azzolino;
Belisario Corenzio Belisario Corenzio ( 1558–1646) was a Greek-Italian painter, active in Venice and Naples. He is one of few Greek painters that did not belong to the Cretan Renaissance like his contemporaries of the time. He escaped the maniera greca complete ...
(''Passion of Christ''); Luigi Rodriguez (''Prophets'' and ''Sybils''); Cesare Smet; and Tommaso Maurizio. Along the windows are canvases (''Symbols of Faith'') by
Belisario Corenzio Belisario Corenzio ( 1558–1646) was a Greek-Italian painter, active in Venice and Naples. He is one of few Greek painters that did not belong to the Cretan Renaissance like his contemporaries of the time. He escaped the maniera greca complete ...
, who also painted the ''Final Judgement'' in the counterfacade in collaboration with Luigi Rodriguez. On the right of the counterfacade is a copy of a painting by
Aert Mytens Aert Mijtens (; 15411602) was a Flemish Renaissance painter who worked for most of his career in Italy. Here he was known for his altarpieces. Family Mitjens was born in Brussels. He was the first known member of a family of painters named Mij ...
. The transept has canvases by
Nicola Malinconico Nicola Malinconico (1663–1721) was a Neapolitan painter of the late-Baroque. He is described as a follower of Luca Giordano, and painted mostly religious canvases. He painted the chapel altarpieces for the church of St Michele Arcangelo in Anac ...
and Corenzio. In the chapel to the right of the altar is a painting by Simone Papa, retouched in the 19th century by
Luigi Pastore Luigi Pastore (Aversa, Province of Caserta, May 24, 1834 - January 19, 1913) was an Italian painter. Born to working-class parents, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Naples, and painted mainly landscapes, historic and sacred subjects, or ...
. The architects and decorators of the choir (1621) include Corenzio, Papa, De Lione, with stucco by Francesco Napolella. To the left of the altar is a silver ''paliotto'' for Domenico Marinelli and Matteo Treglia, made to designs from
Lorenzo Vaccaro Lorenzo Vaccaro (1655 – 10 August 1706) was an Italian late-Baroque sculptor. He worked in a formalized restrained style. He was born in Naples, the son of a lawyer. He apprenticed with Cosimo Fanzago and Dionisio Lazzari. He was a close frie ...
and
Gaetano Vesivalle Gaetano (anglicized '' Cajetan'') is an Italian masculine given name. It is also used as a surname. It is derived from the Latin ''Caietanus'', meaning "from ''Caieta''" (the modern Gaeta). The given name has been in use in Italy since medieval pe ...
. The walls are frescoed by Beinaschi and have sculptures by Tommaso Malvito. In the arches of the chapels are frescoes (1699–1701) by Malinconico. The main altar (1640) was conceived by
Cosimo Fanzago Cosimo Fanzago (Clusone, 12 October 1591 – Napoli, 13 February 1678) was an Italian architect and sculptor, generally considered the greatest such artist of the Baroque period in Naples, Italy. Biography Early life and education Fanzago was ...
, and completed with help from Mario Cotti, Giuseppe Pellizza, and Andrea Lazzaro. Agostino Borghetti completed the wooden statues of the Procession artifact. The first chapel on right has paintings by
Battistello Caracciolo Giovanni Battista Caracciolo (also called Battistello) (1578–1635) was an Italian artist and important Neapolitan follower of Caravaggio. He was a member of the murderous Cabal of Naples, with Belisario Corenzio and Giambattista Caracciolo ...
, sculptures by Nicolò Carletti, Domenico Monterosso, and scholars of Girolamo d'Auria. The main altarpiece is by
Teodoro d'Errico Dirck Hendricksz (Amsterdam, 1544 – Amsterdam, 1618) was a Dutch-Italian painter. In Italy he was known as Teodoro d'Errico or Dirk Hendrici. He was engaged in painting mainly altarpieces and for churches in Naples from 1574 to 1606. Although bo ...
. The second chapel has paintings by Benedetto Torre. The third chapel has paintings by
Marco Pino Marco Pino or Marco da Siena (1521–1583) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance and Mannerist period. Born in Costalpino and first trained in Siena, he later worked in Rome and in Naples, where he died. He was putatively a pupil of the pain ...
and frescoes by Corenzio: the altar was designed by Girolamo D'Auria. The fourth chapel has paintings by
Giovanni Battista Beinaschi ''The Deploration of Abel'', Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Italian painter and engraver active in the Mannerism">Mannerist and Baroque style. Life He was born in Turin. He first trained in the Piedmont, under a painter by the n ...
. The fifth chapel has paintings by
Giuseppe Marullo Giuseppe Marullo (died 1685, Naples) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active near his natal city of Orta di Atella.Santillo Sandini, while the altarpiece (1620) is attributed to Francesco Balsimelli. The sixth chapel was designed by Giuseppe Gallo with paintings by Francesco Antonio Altobello and Onofrio de Lione; The seventh chapel, partially obstructed by the organ, has paintings by Santillo Sandini. The third chapel on the left is the largest in the church, and is called the Cappellone di San Giacomo della Marca, and hosts the preserved body of St
James of the Marches James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...
. It was commissioned by Gonzalo di Cordova, called the great captain. The ceilings are frescoed by
Massimo Stanzione Massimo Stanzione (also called Stanzioni; Frattamaggiore 1585 – Naples 1656) was an Italian Baroque painter, mainly active in Naples, where he and his rival Jusepe de Ribera dominated the painting scene for several decades. He was primarily a ...
, and depict the ''Miracles of the Saint'', including the procession by Neapolitans with his body to compel the volcano Vesuvius to stop its 1631 eruption. A number of warriors are memorialized or buried in this chapel, Amida of Tunis, who had been briefly installed as king by
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) ...
, and died in exile in Naples by 1601; Francesco di Cordova, conqueror of Malta. Ferdinando di Cordova, nephew of Gonzalo commissioned sculptures from
Giovanni da Nola Giovanni da Nola (1478–1559), also known as Giovanni Merliano, was an Italian sculptor and architect of the Renaissance, active in Naples. He was born the son of a leather merchant, in Nola near Naples. Da Nola moved to Naples where he traine ...
for the tombs of the Captain and Pietro Navarro (despite his death by suicide), and Odette di Foix, a French general who died during the siege of the city, but found by Neapolitans, after having been buried unceremoniously by his troops. The first chapel on the left has paintings by Scibelli; The second chapel on the left has frescoes by an unknown 16th century painter. The fourth chapel on the left has the Funereal Monument of Duke Caracciolo di San Teodoro by Domenico Morante, a wooden statue by Michele Perrone and frescoes by Beinaschi; the fifth chapel on the left has paintings by
Giuseppe Castellano Giuseppe Castellano (September 12, 1893 – July 31, 1977) was an Italian general who negotiated and signed the armistice between Italy and the Allies on September 3, 1943. Biography Military career Of Sicilian descent but born in Prato, he was ...
, Beinaschi, and de Lione ; the sixth chapel on the left has an altar by Pietro Nicolini, and paintings by Giuseppe Mastroleo and Andrea de Lione. The pulpit was sculpted by Balsimelli. The seventh chapel on the left, partially obstructed by the organ, has paintings attributed to an 8 year old
Luca Giordano Luca Giordano (18 October 1634 – 3 January 1705) was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples, Rome, Florence, and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain. Early l ...
. In the Turbolo chapel of the church, there exists an encrypted oncial epigraph which has been subject to unsuccessful attempts at its decipherment. The church is a part of a larger monastic complex, much of which now houses municipal office space.


References


Sources

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External links


Santa Maria La Nova - Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maria la Nova Naples 1620 establishments in Italy 1620 establishments in the Spanish Empire 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Museums in Naples Renaissance architecture in Naples Roman Catholic churches completed in 1620 Maria la Nova Undeciphered historical codes and ciphers