Santa Maria della Misericordia ai Vergini, Catholic church in Vergini district, Naples, Italy.
Santa Maria della Misericordia ai Vergini is a church in Naples' Vergini quarter located at the corner of Via Fuori Porta San Gennaro and Via Misericordiella. The building features a simple two-story facade with a piperno stone portal and contains an underground chamber roughly the same size as the main worship space.
The building was founded in 1532 by priest Benedetto Tizzone and Count Giovanni Antonio Caracciolo as a refuge for poor clergy members. The underground area later served as a burial place.
The church displays artworks by Naples' finest painters such as Giovanni Balducci and Leonardo Olivieri from the 18th century. These pieces shape the interior today and reflect the city's artistic tradition.
The building has been managed by the SMMAVE Contemporary Art Center since 2015, which organizes cultural events inside. Visitors should check ahead since opening hours vary as the center uses the space for artistic and cultural activities.
The church's underground chamber is a hidden level that is nearly the same size as the visible worship area above it. This overlooked double structure makes it an unexpected space to explore beneath the street.
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