Italy 2015

Naples’ Sites

Photos by Walt & Gloria Fogler-Mancini

Ischia is the largest and most beautiful island in the Bay of Naples.  It is known as the “Emerald Isle” and its resorts, thermal springs and therapeutic mud baths are famous.  It is most popular with celebrities, and Italians and Germans such as Angela Merkel. 

Near Ischia Porto is Ischia Ponte with the Castello Aragonese.  The first castle there was built in there 474 BC.

In the oldest part of Naples, seven noblemen founded a charitable institution called the Pio Monte della Misericordia in 1601.  It is an octagonal church most famous for Caravaggio’s painting from 1607, the Seven Acts of Mercy.

The Chiesa di Santa Chiara was originally begun in 1313 in the Provencal-Gothic style.  The tombs of Naples’ Angevin monarchs are here, with that of King Robert of Anjou being behind the altar. Later, other royal tombs were added. It was rebuilt after being bombed in WWII.

Behind the church is the 18C Chiostro delle Mailliche. When the cloister was created in 1742 by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro, the cloister garden got its unique, light-hearted decor.  The garden’s colonnade is decorated with ceramic Majolica tile in rococo scenes of everyday life.  Deteriorating frescos surround the garden area.

The origins of the Reggia di Capodimonte and Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte date back to 1738 when Charles VII of Naples decided to build a hunting lodge. His plans changed and the palace was built to accommodate his expanding court and to house the “fabulous” Farnese art collection which he had inherited from his mother, Elisabetta Farnese. The city of Naples grew around the palace and adjoining hunting park. 

The art museum is one of the best in Europe with work by Botticelli, Raphael, Bernini, and Titian (among others).  To the left is the Toulouse Altarpiece by Simone Martini.  The famous Farnese  collection of Greco-Roman sculpture is in Naples’ National Archaeological Museum.

The royal apartments are separate from the art galleries.  They are very well decorated and have fine examples of decorative art from Naples.  Though the palace and galleries were looted when Napolean and the English occupied Naples, much of the art was returned.

The photographs were taken with Leica M v240s.  All images are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission.  We can be contacted at fogler.mancini@sbcglobal.net.  

Our home page is http://www.fogler-mancini-photos.com/Home/Fogler-Mancini_Home.html                                          February 15, 2016
 

The Cappella Sansevero is a small 16C chapel that is the burial sepulcher of the princes of Sangro di Sansevero.  It is famous for its 18C late Baroque sculpture - especially the central veiled figure, Il Cristo Velato. 

Note:  photography is strictly forbidden in the Cappella Sansevero.  Numerous personnel enforce this rule.  None of the pictures from inside the chapel are ours.  The signs from the street to the left are. 

This is across the street from our hotel.