Santa Maria dello Splendore, Religious architectural ensemble in Montecalvario, Naples, Italy.
Santa Maria dello Splendore is a former Catholic place of worship on Via Pasquale Scura in the Montecalvario district of Naples. The complex consists of a church and an adjoining hospice for orphaned and needy women, founded together in 1592. The church ceiling carries frescoes by de Matteis, and a chapel holds a Saint Francis by a good hand; the Assumption above the main altar and the paintings on the side walls are modern works.
The complex was founded in 1592 by Assunta Caracciolo, a noble Neapolitan woman, to provide shelter and care for orphaned girls alongside a place of worship. Her initiative combined faith with social assistance, establishing an institution that served the community for centuries.
The church's dedication inspired Giovanni Giovenale Ancina to compose the lauda "Vorrei Vergine Bella", a song tied to the site's founding. The adjoining conservatory housed orphaned and needy women under the Franciscan rule, and since 1988 the former place of worship has served as a multifunctional centre.
The complex now functions as a multipurpose community center rather than an active place of worship, though it remains open to visitors interested in the architecture. Check ahead before visiting to confirm access times, as the building houses local services and may have limited visiting hours.
The lauda 'Vorrei Vergine Bella', written by Giovanni Giovenale Ancina for the church's dedication, is a devotional song in Italian, not a composed score; Ancina later became bishop of Saluzzo. The complex was damaged in the 1980 Irpinia earthquake and has housed a multipurpose centre since 1988.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,218 contributors worldwide.