Santissima Annunziata.

Having several free hours in Naples means that we are about to find something 100 percent jaw dropping, or almost.
This rule doesn’t ever fail, so today when we made just three steps away from my son's one time noble "palazzo", I was ready to discover something new (again) in this amazing labyrinth of pure magic mixed with decay.

I am not here to give you lectures on the arts history and I prefer just to share this hidden treasure with you, so one time you find yourself close to "Napoli Centrale" with some free time and nothing to do, you can go straight to the Santissima Annunziata. A slight cultural shock is guaranteed, even for the most experienced Italy lovers.

This 14th century religious complex was badly injured by a devastating fire in 1757 and went through a significant reconstruction afterwards. The soaring 67m-high cupola that one sees right from the entrance is one of the newest additions. It’s valuable and impressive all by itself, but as it often happens in life, in order to see more you must go further.

A curious visitor will keep searching and will be rewarded by finding several oldest survivors of the blaze, such as the astonishing 1580 sacristy with exquisitely carved wooden armoires by Girolamo D'Auria and Salvatore Caccavello depicting New Testament scenes and original frescoes by Belisario Corenzio taking care of Old Testament tales.

Another survivor is hidden beneath the church and it’s Carlo Vanvitelli's extraordinary, round, vaulted crypt, complete with six altars.

I have already researched on the sad story of this church being the "right” place for leaving orphans and abandoned babies and children for many many years (the famous "ruota" in the wall functioned at full speed until, you won’t believe this, the 1980s !!!).
And I still have to read more about these two saints whose statues I completely fell in love with…

I think it’s useless even to mention that we remained totally mesmerized by the proud and decadent beauty of Santissima Annunziata.

Someone may like it, someone may hate it, but one thing is true - Naples never disappoints those who insist and keep checking what’s there around the corner)