The Sansevero Chapel Museum in Naples

In the core of the historic centre of Naples there is the amazing Sansevero Chapel Museum, a noble temple by Raimondo di Sangro, that houses incredible wonders, such as the Veiled Christ.

The chapel dates back to late 16th century, when the duke of Torremaggiore Giovan Francesco di Sangro reigned. He requested the chapel to express gratitude to the Virgin Mary for miraculously healing him. Later, during early 17th century, his son Alessandro improved and enlarged the building.

The current look of the chapel is due to Raimondo di Sangro, 7th prince of Sansevero, that completely remodeled it in the 18th century.

The Museo Cappella Sansevero is in via Francesco de Sanctis 19-21, next to the Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore (San Domenico Maggiore Church), right in the core of Napoli historic centre.

From via de Sanctis you can enter the gate with the di Sangro family’s emblem. The Baroque-style church has just one nave with the main altar at the end. At the centre of the nave there is the amazing veiled Christ, sculpted by Giuseppe Sanmartino in 1753.

The side sepulchral chapels are dedicated to the di Sangro family’s ancestors; whereas, the statues against the pillars portray the Virtues, including the Disinganno (Disillusionment). Within the underground cavea, to which you can access from the side of the nave, there are the Macchine anatomiche (Anatomical Machinery), that is two standing skeletons with perfectly preserved vascular system.