The Church of Portosalvo in Naples reopens after decades: the restorations are finally finished

Portosalvo Church

The Church of Santa Maria di Portosalvo in Naples finally reopens and the next one will Spring, after the long and fruitful struggles of the Committee of the same name and the diocese which has always seen Fr Battaglia at the forefront.

Il Portosalvo Committee it has a 20-year long history behind it during which it has always tried to do everything to reopen this historic one church of the sailors. The dream has finally come true today and theannouncement came from the new bishop who, in recent months, has visited the church several times.

A big sigh of relief for all involved as the reopening announcements have been going on for about 15 years, but finally now we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It is an important place both for worship and because they were inside there are important works and treasures that are currently found in the Royal Palace in the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore and that will almost certainly be returned.

The precious works of the Church

Inside, the restoration work is practically complete and only a few details relating to the restoration of the exterior are missing.

No one knows yet whether it will be returned to worship or have another function, maybe of museum, but what we hope is that the important works that it previously kept will return. It deals with:

  • di wooden statues who at the moment are in the church of San Paolo Maggiore;
  • ofoval of the coffered with a fine painting by Battistello Caracciolo;
  • gold and silver that were saved 20 years ago thanks to the denunciation of the Committee and which are now in the Royal Palace.

The previous degradation that ditched the Church

As told by Antonio Pariante, who chairs the Portosalvo Committee, for many years the church has been in a profound state of decay. It was practically devastated by termites that attacked the wooden sculptures, the crucifix had been attacked by mice and there were also dozens of abusive advertisements covering it.

It was really necessary to proceed with a restoration work that was very successful we can say. They have been brought to new life:

  • il ceiling;
  • the drawers;
  • the dome;
  • il lantern;
  • the organ coffer;
  • the apse;
  • The frescoes in the presbytery.

We then proceeded towaterproofing and redevelopment of all the exteriors which, as mentioned, are almost completed.

Fountain of the maruzza
Photo source: Napoli Turistica

The Church of the sailors, an important testimony

The Church of Portosalvo, being able to be used again, also becomes a testimony of an important place of worship in the city. It is located in via Alcide De Gasperi, practically a few steps from via Marina and the Port of Naples.

Fu founded in the sixteenth century by a sailor who managed to survive a shipwreck and who decided to take a leap of faith by giving birth to a coven with a chapel. Due to this history and its proximity to the port, it is also known as the sailors' church.

Its position is quite curious because it is located in the middle of two lanes for cars and on the outside there are two important works that often go unnoticed:

  • the fountain of the "Maruzza", that is of the snail, which dates back to the 500th century, on the left side inside the gardens;
  • A Spire, on the right and more isolated than the Church, built in 1799 by the Bourbons to celebrate the reconquest of the Kingdom of Naples after the Neapolitan Republic.

Cover source: Corriere del Mezzogiorno

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Written by Fabiana Bianchi
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