Santissima Annunziata Maggiore, Naples, Neoclassical church in Forcella, Naples, Italy
Santissima Annunziata Maggiore is a Neoclassical church in the Forcella neighborhood of Naples, with a concave facade and paired Corinthian columns. Inside, a decorated barrel vault runs along the full length of the nave.
The site dates to 1318, when Queen Sancia of Majorca founded a shelter for abandoned children alongside a place of worship. The building was rebuilt and reshaped over the centuries, and took on its current Neoclassical form after earthquake damage.
The church holds paintings by Giacinto Diano, a Neapolitan painter from the 18th century known for his light, soft style. Visitors can see these works directly in the side chapels, where they remain part of the original religious setting.
The church is in the heart of Naples historic center and is easy to reach on foot from other sites in the old city. Modest dress is expected, as it remains an active place of worship.
Until the 1870s, a rotating basket was built into a wall of the complex, letting people leave newborns anonymously without facing anyone. The system became so widely used that the complex grew into one of the largest foundling institutions in southern Italy.
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