Living in an Inside Cabin

Naples Al Fresco, near Sansevero Chapel

I was fortunate enough to visit this lovely little jewel of the art world last week, Museo Cappella Sansevero.  I was really taken aback by a few of stunning creations in here.  There are 3 pieces in particular worth studying; the Veiled Christ (Cristo velato) and the statues Modesty and Disillusion.  The detailed workmanship is amazing and actually awe inspiring.  Even the floor is intriguing, reminiscent of Escher.  It is well worth finding this chapel in the heart of historic Naples.  Below is a condensed description from one of the brochures.

The Sansevero Chapel, also known as Santa Maria della Pieta, was erected in the late 16th century by Giovan Francesco di Sangro, but it was Raimondo di Sangro, seventh prince of Sansevero, who conceived and realized between 1740 and 1770, the fascinating iconographic design we can see today

The Prince wished to build a family mausoleum and, at the same time, a temple of initiation, reflecting his multi-faceted personality as a patron of the arts, inventor, man of letters and publisher as well as alchemist and Grand Master of the Freemasons in the Kingdom of Naples.

Among masterpieces as the Veiled Christ (Guiseppe Sanmartino, 1753), renowned the world over for the remarkable tissue-like quality of the marble,, and the wonderful virtuosity of Disillusion (Francesco Queirolo,1753-54) as well as the enigmatic Anatomical Machines (Guiseppe Salerno, 1763-64), the Sansevero Chapel is one of the most impressive monuments that the human mind has ever conceived.

It killed me not to be able to take photos of my favorites in the chapel but I hit the streets and went for the living subjects instead.  Please consider putting the chapel on your list when you’re visiting Naples, you won’t regret a moment.

Italy? Pasta!