Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro, Baroque chapel in Naples Cathedral, Italy.
The Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro is a baroque church within Naples Cathedral, built on a Greek cross plan with a central dome. Its interior features altars decorated with silver and detailed frescoes covering the walls and ceilings.
Construction began in 1608 after Naples residents took a vow to build this chapel following a series of calamities that included plagues and volcanic eruptions. The project represented the city's faith and devotion to San Gennaro for protection.
Three times yearly, the chapel displays vials holding the blood of San Gennaro in a ritual that requires both the Archbishop and city officials to open the strongbox together. This event remains deeply meaningful to many local residents.
Audio guides are available in twelve languages including Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Neapolitan. These guides help visitors navigate the chapel and understand its artistic features in their preferred language.
The chapel houses one of the world's largest collections of silverware, accompanied by extensive archives documenting its history. These records provide insight into how the collection was assembled and maintained over centuries.
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