Santa Maria Stella del Mare, Gothic Revival church in Historic Center, Naples, Italy
Santa Maria Stella del Mare is a Gothic Revival church in Naples featuring a distinctive bell tower with a diamond-shaped top and small single-lancet windows arranged above larger double-lancet openings. The structure was built on a modest footprint within the historic center.
The current structure was completed in 1907, replacing an earlier building that housed an iron sellers congregation dating back to 1561. This new construction reflected the growing needs of the religious community in the neighborhood.
The church once served as the seat of a royal confraternity whose name remains carved above the entrance. This building reflects the trades and community groups that operated throughout this neighborhood.
The church is not open to visitors as it currently functions as storage and undergoes structural reinforcement work. Best appreciated from the street level, where you can observe the exterior facade and architectural details from the sidewalk.
The building initially served the iron sellers guild but eventually shared space with tavern keepers and cheese merchants. This mix of different trade groups reveals how closely connected various professions were in this historic neighborhood.
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