Where the San Gaudioso complex once stood

About three centuries later, the Neapolitan bishop Stefano II decided to restore the buildings, which had by then fallen into ruin, in order to house Benedictine nuns there, and he also added the new construction of the Church of San Gaudioso, dedicated to Santa Fortunata.

In the heart of the historic centre of Naples, along the Cardo, precisely at Vico San Gaudioso, one can see an imposing Fanzago-style staircase, above which stands a splendid portal made of piperno stone. This beautiful arch, which today seems to guard the entrance to a bare garden, was once the doorway into the ancient religious complex of San Gaudioso.

History

This structure was founded around the 5th century thanks to Settimo Celio Gaudioso, bishop of Abitine (Tunisia), and other African clergymen who, after being driven from their homeland for refusing to convert to Arianism, were shipwrecked in Naples and built the complex.

About three centuries later, the Neapolitan bishop Stefano II decided to restore the buildings, which had by then fallen into ruin, in order to house Benedictine nuns there, and he also added the new construction of the Church of San Gaudioso, dedicated to Santa Fortunata. In 1530, the Benedictine nuns were succeeded by the nuns of Santa Maria d'Agnone, who brought with them, into the church, the relics of the Madonna d'Agnone.

Between the 16th and 17th centuries the complex underwent its true expansion, being remodelled according to Renaissance artistic principles. First, the enchanting cloister designed by Giovanni Francesco di Palma was built; later, the piperno staircase, still visible today, was created by the hand of Cosimo Fanzago.

In February 1799, at the time of the proclamation of the Neapolitan Republic, the Church of San Gaudioso was deliberately set on fire to flush out rebels who had taken refuge within its sacred walls. During this tragic event, the nuns of Santa Maria d'Agnone managed to save only a few relics from the flames, such as the blood of San Gaudioso and the sacred image of the Madonna they venerated. As a result, the valuable works of art once kept inside the church — including paintings by Luca Giordano, Battistello Caracciolo, Francesco Solimena and many others — were irremediably destroyed.

The monastery escaped the fire but, later, in modern times, was converted into a university site: it first housed the astronomical observatory and, subsequently, that of the Navy.

In 1920 it was decided to demolish the entire complex to make way for new hospitals, and today all that remains of the structure is the entrance staircase, the portal, and a hint of the cloister.

Sadly, this was one of the many historic buildings that fell victim to the aggressive urbanisation of the city of Naples. Even though only a few remains survive, it continues to be a place of intense charm that certainly deserves a visit.