Chapel
of San Severo
The Chapel, according to historical testimony, dates back to 1608 when Duke
Giovan Francesco di Sangro, after vows regarding an illness, had it built
in the smallest dimensions possible in the palace garden. His son, Alessandro,
then had it expanded, making it the destined resting place for the family.
During the period leading up to the end of 1742, it remained unchanged.
It was only from this time that Prince Raimondo di Sangro, transformed it,
taking care to supervise the work himself. The Prince, a man of arms, a
literary man and alchemist, created a mysterious air surrounding the Chapel.
The Neapolitans spoke of his experiments which they believed petrified the
bodies of two young people who were still alive. The bodies are conserved
in the crypt. The main interest of the Chapel is constituted by a number
of sculptures by artists coming from all over Italy. In particular, along
the sides of the presbytery, one can admire La Pudicizia (Modesty) by Antonio
Corradini, Il Disinganno (Disenchantment) by Francesco Queriolo and finally,
the real attraction of the Chapel, the statue of a Veiled Christ by Giuseppe
Sammartino. A splendid figure of Christ carefully laid on cushions and covered
by a sudarium. |
