The Basilicas
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Basilica of st. Gennaro
The basilica was built near St.Gennaro’s Catacombs in the V Century A.D. and the old structure was probably the result of the merging of two ancient burial sites, one of the II Century containing the remains of Sant'Agrippino (the first patron saint of the city) and the other of the IV Century, which housed the remains of St. Gennaro, at least until the translation of the spoils in the first half of the IX Century.
The building underwent several changes between the IX and XV Centuries. It is now considered a rare and almost entire testimony of early Christian architecture, renovated in Aragonese time (XIV-XV Century) without altering structure of the basilica with three naves. The most integral part of early Christian building is the semi-circular apse; in it the fragments of a fourteenth-century ciborium, now on display in the Civic Museum of Castel Nuovo, were walled up.
Molded arches and mighty pillars of the nave have replaced the original columns, are rare and valuable as a testimony of Catalan architecture.
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Basilica of st. Severo
St. Severo, bishop of Naples in 364-410, built four churches including this one, which he chose for his burial. The decline of the early Christian basilica was marked by the transfer of the relics of St. Severo in the church of St. Giorgio Maggiore (IX Century). The current configuration of the basilica (1680-1690) is due to D. Lazzari. The interior, with classical forms, is partly carved into the rock; paintings by L. Carcano and P. De Matteis show themselves, and a valuable altar table by T. d'Errico (XVI Century).
The Chapel of St. Antonio (1621) has a single nave with fine stucco framing XVII Century paintings. The painting of “St. Antonio” (second half of XVII Century) is by M. Ragoli. At either sides there are a “St. Nicholas”, by the famous Neapolitan painter Luca Giordano and a “Holy Bishop” by F. Fracanzano. On the left wall two paintings by L. Giordano, “St. Anne” and “Elijah”. Also on the left a “St. Michael” monochrome by A. Vaccaro. On the side walls 12 paintings with stories of S. Antonio (second half of XVII Century). The organ is signed by Mancini (1760). Under the vault: the “Eternal Father” by G. Diano, “The Virgin and Child” by G.B. Spinelli, “The Immaculate Virgin” (copy from B. Cavallino) and “St. Francis” by a follower of L. Giordano.
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Basilica of st. Maria della Sanità
The Basilica of St. Mary of Sanità is an extraordinary monument, an authentic museum of the Neapolitan XVII Century painting, showing different artistic currents from mannerist to classicist, baroque and contemporary. The Monacone church – as she is affectionately called by the faithful – reveals since the outset, a special social vocation: like the basilica of St. Peter, to which it is inspired, it is the heart of the Sanità District.
The basilica is considered the masterpiece of the architect fra’ Nuvolo, who designed a very original floor plan, developing basic solutions by Bramante and Michelangelo, with a dynamic proto-baroque tension. The architecture of the church, precisely in the vaults and in the close cloister, show the use of the oval that was introduced in Rome by Vignola, in contrast to the static conception of the Renaissance. Inside the basilica worked painters such as L. Giordano, Pacecco de Rosa and A. Vaccaro, who have left valuable pictorial artifacts.
