San Severo al Pendino, Naples, Former Renaissance church in Naples, Italy
San Severo al Pendino is a former church in Naples designed with a Greek cross floor plan and two side chapels. The interior features 18th-century marble decorations and ornamental details that reflect the building's Renaissance origins.
The building was founded in 1448 as Santa Maria a Selice and underwent major reconstruction between 1599 and 1620 under architect Giovan Giacomo Di Conforto. This renovation period shaped its current Renaissance character and structural design.
The building contains the funereal monument of Giovanni Alfonso Bisvallo, created in 1617 by sculptor Girolamo D'Auria, representing Renaissance craftsmanship.
The space now serves as an exhibition and event venue in Naples' historic center near Via Duomo. Visitors should note that it functions as a secular cultural space despite its religious architectural origins.
The building housed Naples State Archives starting in 1818 before returning to religious purposes under Filippo Botta's leadership later. This shift reveals how the space adapted to different civic roles across generations.
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