Church of San Gregorio Armeno

The Church of San Gregorio Armeno, located in the street of the same name in the heart of the historic center of Naples, represents a precious example of Baroque architecture. Its history dates back to antiquity, as it was built on a pre-existing pagan temple, probably dedicated to the goddess Ceres. According to some sources, the original religious complex was founded around 930, but more credible testimonies place its origins in the 8th century, when a group of Basilian nuns, fleeing from Constantinople, settled in the city bringing with them the relics of San Gregorio Armeno, patriarch of Armenia. The church and the adjacent monastery have undergone numerous renovations and expansions over the centuries, reflecting the different historical and artistic phases that have marked the city of Naples. In 1009, during the Norman period, the monastery expanded to include four surrounding oratories, giving rise to a large monastic complex. In the 15th century, during the reign of Ferdinand I of Naples, the church became an important religious and political center, so much so that in 1443 the king received the blessing for the succession to the throne here. After the Council of Trent, the nuns were obliged to observe enclosure, a change that led to a series of structural transformations to adapt the monastery to the new needs. In 1572, a vast reconstruction project began under the direction of Giovanni Francesco Mormando, with Giovanni Vincenzo Della Monica and Giovan Battista Cavagna overseeing the execution phases. This intervention led to the creation of a new, larger and more majestic church than the previous one, and to the construction of the bell tower. Between 1576 and 1577, the majolica dome of the church was completed, a distinctive element that still captures the attention of visitors today. The interior of the church is a triumph of Baroque art, with marble decorations, golden stuccoes, and frescoes. The coffered ceiling, created between 1580 and 1584, is decorated with paintings by Teodoro d’Errico and carvings by Neapolitan craftsmen. The side chapels house a series of valuable works of art, including the Adoration of the Magi by Giovanni Bernardo Lama and the marble altar by Pietro Ghetti. One of the most fascinating elements of the church is the monumental cloister, considered one of the most beautiful and evocative in Naples. At the center of the cloister is a seventeenth-century marble fountain, flanked by eighteenth-century statues by Matteo Bottiglieri depicting Christ and the Samaritan woman. The frescoes decorating the walls of the cloister, created by artists such as Belisario Corenzio and Paolo De Matteis, tell biblical stories and legends related to the life of the monastery. In the 18th century, under the guidance of Nicola Tagliacozzi Canale, the church underwent further restoration interventions that enriched it with Rococo elements. New carvings were made on the ceiling of the nave, the choir grilles of the nuns, internal stuccoes and gildings, as well as brass gates of the chapels and balustrades. Around 1759, the “winter choir” was built, a more easily accessible space for the nuns during the cold months, located on the second floor of the entrance atrium. With the advent of Gioacchino Murat at the beginning of the 19th century, the monastery was initially included in the list of those to be suppressed, but it managed to survive thanks to its wealth and political and social importance. After the Unification of Italy, the complex continued to play a central role in the religious and cultural life of Naples. The remains of Santa Patrizia were transferred to the church, and since then the ritual of the liquefaction of the saint’s blood, similar to that of San Gennaro, has been celebrated there. Throughout the 20th century, the monastery has faced new challenges, including the reduction in the number of nuns and the need for funding for the maintenance of the structure. However, thanks to the arrival of the Adorers of the Eucharist Crucified Sisters in 1922, the complex found new vitality and continued to carry out educational and welfare activities.