Cappella Sansevero, Art museum in Naples Historic Center, Italy
Cappella Sansevero is an art museum in the historic center of Naples, housed inside a former family chapel of the di Sangro. The interior displays a collection of marble sculptures from the 18th century, including works considered examples of baroque stone carving.
The chapel was built in the late 16th century at the request of Giovanni Francesco di Sangro, who commissioned it after recovering from an illness. During the 18th century, Raimondo di Sangro ordered extensive renovations and hired numerous sculptors to redesign the interior.
The di Sangro family used the space as their burial place across generations, and their coats of arms remain visible on the walls. Visitors encounter a site that feels less like a church and more like a private mausoleum, showing the close link between art and family memory.
The museum opens daily except Tuesdays and can be reached on foot within the historic quarter. The rooms are small, so a visit early in the morning or on weekdays is recommended to avoid crowds.
The basement holds two anatomical preparations from the mid-18th century, in which blood vessels and nerve pathways were recreated using wax and fine wire. The origin and exact method of creating these models remain unexplained to this day.
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