By Ava DiPaolo, Andrea Hummel, and Evangelia Gavrilos
Brimming on the bustling town center of Sorrento, the Santuario della Madonna del Carmine sits overlooking passersby. The quaint yellow outside holds a beautiful interior that invites those visiting Sorrento to stop by to enjoy the view.
This church sitting in the heart of Sorrento represents centuries of history rooted in the town and also the greater region of Campania. Dating back to the sixteenth century, this church once stood just outside the walls of the city. It is thought that it was built where the first Christian martyrs of Sorrento were once executed. It is dedicated to the Madonna del Carmine, or the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as the patroness of the Carmelite order within the catholic church. The Carmelites are a religious sect of catholicism that dedicate their lives to modeling that of the Virgin Mary and the prophet Elijah.
An inscription on the outside of the church can be seen to indicate the town of Sorrento's dedication to the Madonna del Carmine and the church's commitment to this.
Once inside the church, the influence of the Carmelite order is apparent. The main style of the church is baroque. This style is present in many of Italy’s churches and is characterized by beautifully ornate displays of gold and intricate carvings. The baroque style holds historical significance as part of the catholic church's response, known as the Counter-Reformation, to the spread of Protestantism in the 1500's. This style was meant to inspire and move the viewer. The outer surface of the church is a pale yellow color adorned with white trimmed carvings. Walking around Sorrento, it is very apparent how this style fits in with the adjoining buildings decorated with light happy colors.
Entering the church, you are greeted by artistic renderings of those important to the Carmelite order. The line the left and right of the navel and are adorned by ornate framing that mimics the outside of the church.
When viewing the paintings, you see important Carmelite figures residing along members of the bible. For example, the painting above is of the renowned Saint Andrea Corsini, a professed member of the Carmelites, depicted with the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. The addition of Carmelite depictions serve as a reminder of their presence within the town and their devotion to the Madonna del Carmine.
The main altar also depicts this devotion.
The stunning baroque style rendition of the Madonna pulls the viewers eyes in and invites them to kneel and remark upon her grace. In addition to the main navel and altar of the church, there is also a small chapel towards the front left that holds important significance.
These are depictions of an inscription (left) and a painting of Blessed Tito Brandsma (right). The inscription is dedicated to the order of Carmelites and the painting depicts an important Carmelite, who was known for being vehemently opposed to the nazis and in turn was killed in a concentration camp during World War II. These structures surround the chapel and allow an air of solitude and contemplation while being surrounded by those of the religious order.
And finally, the far right of the chapel includes a large installment devoted to the Saint Giuseppe Moscati. This shrine is important to the church and also the region for multiple reasons. It shows the stretch of one of the most prominent saints of the region and connects the catholic faith across cities.
Giuseppe Moscati, once a medical doctor in Naples whose catholic faith played an enormous role in his practice, was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987. In addition to aiding the city in its response and treatment of people to the 1911 cholera outbreak, Saint Giuseppe Moscati was known for his commitment to treating the poorer populations of Naples. He not only refused to charge the poor for their treatment, but he, additionally, was known to send patients home with spare change along with their prescriptions. Furthermore, Saint Giuseppe Moscati earned the reputation of being a miracle worker due to claims that he was responsible for impossible cures.
This shrine dedicated to him exhibits a multiplicity of ex voto, or offerings given to a saint in recognition of a miracle they performed. The amount of ex voto portrayed from those in Sorrento shows how far this saint's hand of healing stretched, and links this church with a much wider connection to the region. In particular, the Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo, a church with a similar shrine dedicated to the same saint, allows one to realize this link. When paired together, the visitation of these churches not only represent the spread of important religious figures but also the carrying of the baroque style throughout the region.
Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo and the Cult of San Giuseppe Moscati in Naples
Nestled in the heart of the historic center of Naples, the Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo (which translates to "New Jesus") sits displaying ancient prowess. Opening up onto the Square of Gesù Nuovo, this church’s historical and cultural significance makes it a "must see" while in the region of Campania. Once a noble residence built in 1470, the building was acquired by the Jesuits, a religious order of the Catholic church, in the late 1500’s and construction began on its conversion into a church.
From first glance, there is a stark difference between the outer facade of this building as it is more heavily influenced by the Renaissance style of the Neapolitan buildings of the time as compared to the baroque style of Sorrento. The outside of the building is notable for its ashlar facade characterized by gray pointed, pyramid-like structures. This style was typical of the Venetian Renaissance and was constructed with a local stone called "piperno," a magmatic rock. Through its grand doors, found in between two corinthian style columns, you can observe a stunning baroque style interior.
In the main navel, or central part of the church, you can find a large dome that has been frescoed. This dome has undergone numerous reconstructions due to natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires. During World War II, a bomb landed in on the ceiling of the dome’s center, yet the dome was left miraculously unharmed. The most recent rendition displayed in the dome today was completed in 1975 and features a magnificent assortment of "pseudocupolas," or small rings built upon themselves. In some areas you are still able to see the remains of certain frescoes that date all the way back to the 17th century.
Facing the front of the church towards the altar, you are greeted by a large statue of the “Immaculate Madonna”, or the Virgin Mary. This statue sits in the church’s apse and represents the church’s dedication to the religious figure. This work of art was crafted in 1859 by Antonino Busciolano and is made of white marble standing on a base of blue lapis lazuli, a crystalline marble.
The central navel is adorned by several chapels branching towards the left and the right. A total of ten chapels- five on the left and five on the right- each represent important parts of religious or Jesuit history. The chapels were completed over time by different artists, culminating in a variety of styles. The most notable of these chapels includes the third chapel on the left dedicated to Saint Ignazio of Loyola and the second chapel on the right dedicated to Saint Giuseppe Moscati.
The chapel dedicated to Saint Ignazio of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit church, features paintings depicting him and his life including the “Madonna and Child between Sant'Ignazio di Loyola and San Francesco Saverio”, “Vision of St. Ignatius in La Storta Gloria di Sant'Ignazio” and “Pope Paul III approves the rule of Sant ' Ignatius”. The top of the altar shows a painting of the “Madonna with Child and Sant'Anna”. Frescoes also detail the life of Saint Ignazio along the walls. Buried at the foot of the altar is the composer who commissioned this chapel, Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa.
The chapel dedicated to Saint Giuseppe Moscati takes its significance from the impact of this Saint’s medical work on the community of Naples. Today, the chapel depicts a sculpture of the Saint to which churchgoers touch in hopes of obtaining his healing graces. The chapel also features a wall covered with ex voto which represent the medical miracles ascribed to him, just as can be seen in the Santuario della Madonna del Carmine. The chapel serves as a shrine to the Saint as well as his resting place, as a marble stone marks his grave in the chapel.
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