In Naples there is a church that closely resembles the Roman basilica of St. Peter
The Capodimonte church is defined by the Neapolitans as “a little San Pietro”. The basilica was built internally and externally on the model of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Let’s go and ideally visit this so famous church in Naples.
The basilica of the Crowned Mother of Good Counsel and Queen of the Catholic Church is located in the Capodimonte area and was built on the model of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome both in the exteriors (including the dome) and in the interiors, so much as said to be also known as “The little Saint Peter”.
The church is very close to the Real Bosco di Capodimonte, so much so that from the viewpoint of the royal park you can admire its majestic dome.
In the square of the basilica there is the monumental entrance to the catacombs of San Gennaro, represented by a large bust of the saint over 4 meters high, weighing fifteen quintals; the work, the largest of its kind in the city, was created by Lello Esposito. Next to the bust, on the right, the fountain of the Duchess, so called because it was commissioned by the Duchess Elena d’Aosta.
The church was strongly desired by Maria di Gesù Landi.
Born in Naples on 21 January 1861, even as a child she showed fervent spiritual vocations. She distinguished herself for her great devotion and she was much loved by the Neapolitan people following two miracles.
The construction of the basilica, designed by the architect Vincenzo Veccia, lasted for forty years, from January 6, 1920, when the first stone was laid, to April 26, 1960, the day of the solemn consecration, celebrated by Cardinal Alfonso Castaldo. However, the basilica was usable for worship for several years before the consecration.
Maria di Gesù Landi died on March 26, 1931, however her disappearance did not lead to the interruption of the works, which indeed continued. On 12 June 1938 the effigy of the Mother of Good Counsel was brought inside the basilica still under construction.
In January 1980, Pope John Paul II elevated it to the dignity of a minor basilica.
Popular culture has it that during the 1980 earthquake the marble bust depicting the Madonna placed on the top of the facade fell off, falling to its feet and without being damaged. In reality the statue, full-length, split into two parts and the upper part, the bust, fell from the pediment of the church onto the staircase without injuring any passer-by and broke in turn in two parts, the torso (with the Child in arm) and head. A stone slab placed at the entrance to the basilica recalls the event and subsequent events.
The temple temporarily housed paintings from other churches in the city after the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. It also has works from churches that were demolished or crumbling in the past. The clearest example is given by the eight statues depicting the Apostles placed on the eighteenth-century high altar, six of which are the work of Michelangelo Naccherino, while the remaining two are works by Pietro Bernini and Francesco Cassano. They all come from the demolished church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini in the Charity district.
On the counter-façade there is the Coronation of the Virgin by Giovanni Battista Beinaschi, coming from the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Caponapoli, in the center, on the left the Nativity by Giovanni Balducci, on the right the Deposition by Marco Pino. In the chapels and side aisles important paintings are visible such as Sant’Antonio by Carlo Sellitto, coming from the demolished church of San Nicola alla Dogana, Santa Maria Maddalena from the school of Andrea Vaccaro, the Ecstasy of San Nicola by Giuseppe Simonelli, coming from the church of San Nicola dei Caserti, a Virgin surrounded by apostles from the school of Fabrizio Santafede. Many architectural elements such as altars and frontals also come from other churches.
Some chapels house the tombs of the princesses of the House of Savoy and duchesses of Aosta Elena and Anna d’Orléans.
Discover the History of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
