Chiesa del Divino Amore (Church of the Divine Love)

The history of the church is similar to that of the convent. The building stands on the site of Palazzo Villani, whose family member Beatrice Villani decided to have the place of worship built there. The church was rebuilt by Giovanni Battista Manni in the early 18th century according to a Greek cross plan; Manni's design gave the structures harmony and proportion.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Divino Amore (Church of Saint Mary of the Divine Love, or Chiesa di San Camillo) is a monumental church in the city of Naples, located between Piazzetta del Divino Amore, Via del Grande Archivio, Via de Blasiis and Vicoletto Paparelle al Pendino.

The church

The church does not have a grand façade, as the temple was built upon pre-existing sixteenth-century structures: for example, the corridor leading into the church corresponds to the atrium of the old palace. Inside, the partial marble and stucco decoration is the work of the creative genius Ferdinando Sanfelice, among which the majestic altar in inlaid marble stands out. The paintings were made by Francesco De Mura, Andrea Mattei and Giuseppe Mastroleo.

The cloister

It was built in the 17th century by Francesco Antonio Picchiatti, transforming Palazzo Villani into an enclosed convent. It was never considered of great artistic value, although the marble in some parts was notably precious; consequently, during the restoration later carried out by Ferdinando Sanfelice, the structure underwent considerable changes.

Quite different was the regard in which the local aristocracy of the time was held, so much so that most of the convent's residents came from wealthy families, who were well inclined to offer large dowries both for their daughters' taking of the veil and for their upkeep.

The transformation of the street layout carried out during the Risanamento (the great urban renewal of Naples) destroyed the western side of the building, which had previously been abandoned following the suppression of 1866. The remaining section was used as offices, a nursery and a family counselling centre.