San Giacomo degli Italiani, Naples, Former church in Naples, Italy
San Giacomo degli Italiani is a former baroque church on Via Depretis in central Naples, Italy. Its stone facade features an old portal above which a coat of arms shows a shell crossed with swords.
The church was founded in 1238 during the Swabian era as a gesture of thanks from merchants of the Republic of Pisa, who had defeated a Saracen fleet. In the late 16th century it passed to the knights of the Order of the Spade, and in the 18th century it was restored and decorated in the baroque style.
The church stands on Via Depretis and served for centuries as a gathering place for the Italian community in Naples. Today the building hosts art exhibitions and events, and the baroque details on the facade are still visible to anyone passing by.
The building sits on Via Depretis in a busy part of central Naples, making it easy to reach on foot from nearby squares and streets. Since it is now used for exhibitions and events, it is worth checking beforehand whether it is open on the day of your visit.
The building survived both the bombing of Naples in 1943 and the earthquake of 1980, but the damage from those two events ended its use as a place of worship for good. The artworks that once decorated the interior were moved to other locations in Naples and are no longer inside the building.
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