The Sacred Temple of Scorziata, from splendour to ruin

The Sacred Temple of Scorziata, also known as the church of the Presentation of Mary at the Temple of Scorziata, is located in the historic centre of Naples, in vico Cinquesanti. The conservatory, with its adjoining church, was founded in 1579 by three Neapolitan noblewomen: Giovanna Scorziata and Lucia and Agata Paparo.

by Alessia Giannino

The Sacred Temple of Scorziata, also known as the church of the Presentation of Mary at the Temple of Scorziata, is located in the historic centre of Naples, in vico Cinquesanti.

The conservatory, with its adjoining church, was founded in 1579 by three Neapolitan noblewomen: Giovanna Scorziata and Lucia and Agata Paparo. The latter two were the daughters of Aurelio Paparo, one of the founders of the Monte di Pietà (a charitable pawnbroking institution); the first, from whom the temple takes its name, was instead the wife of Ferrante Brancaccio and spiritual daughter of Gaetano Thiene. After her husband's death she founded the conservatory in a wing of Palazzo De Scorciatis (the family palace) and entrusted its care to the Theatine regular clerics.

The initial intention was to found a charitable institution that would house young noblewomen to be educated for married life or for taking the veil. A project dedicated to abandoned girls was also launched but, in 1585, due to some disagreements, Lucia Paparo left the temple and founded the convent of Santa Maria della Stella alle Paparelle.

In the 18th century the complex was restored and in the 20th century it was entrusted to the Arciconfraternita del Santissimo Sacramento all'Avvocata (Archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament).

Structure

The façade has two tiers, each marked by a pair of Ionic pilasters in stucco.

The portal is made of stucco and piperno stone and is topped by a roundel enclosing a cross on three hills, added in the early 20th century, which represents the symbol of the Archconfraternity.

In 1980, during the Irpinia earthquake, the building was damaged and looted. In 1993, during a raid, several works of art were stolen, including the altarpiece of the main altar depicting the “Presentazione al Tempio” (Presentation at the Temple) by Nicola Maria Rossi and a “San Giovannino” (Young Saint John), a copy of a painting by Caravaggio. Then, on the night between the 16th and 17th of January 2012, the church was devastated by a fire and, in 2015, even the flooring was taken away. Today the Temple of Scorziata is still in a state of neglect, but it seems that restoration and recovery work will soon begin, thanks to some European funding received for the UNESCO project for the historic centre of Naples.