Santa Maria di Caravaggio

Santa Maria di Caravaggio is a Baroque church near Piazza Dante with a central floor plan and a prominent dome that draws the eye upward. Inside, paintings by Neapolitan artists fill the walls and side chapels throughout the space.

The church was founded in 1627 under the patronage of Felice Pignella and was first managed by the Piarist order. Leadership later passed to another religious community that took on its care.

The name comes from devotion to Mary and her miraculous appearances that once drew pilgrims here. You can still see in the side chapels today how the artistic tastes of the city are shown through the different styles of paintings on display.

The church is easy to reach by public transport, with two metro lines nearby and the closest station at Piazza Dante. Check the opening hours before you go to make sure it is open when you plan to visit.

In the 1870s, the church became linked to an institute for blind children, giving it a surprising new role beyond prayer and worship. This connection shows how religious places sometimes grew beyond their original purpose.