CHIESA DEL ARCICONFRATERNITA SANTA MARIA VISITAPOVERI
Latest update: 19 March 2022
CHIESA DEL ARCICONFRATERNITA SANTA MARIA VISITAPOVERI
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Constructed: 17th century
Style: Baroque
Location: Piazza Municipio, Forio
The Chiesa Del Arciconfraternita Santa Maria Visitapoveri is a jewel of a church is situated next door to the Church of S. Francesco d’Assisi, in the same piazza. Archive records indicate a very early foundation, around 1601, dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie and the Misericordia - in 1829, the title ‘Visitapoveri’ was acquired.
Construction of the church was commenced in c 1620, but was later burned down in a fire of 1670 and later rebuilt. Work was again carried out in the next century, when the façade was modified, the minstrel’s gallery with organ by Giuseppe Gallo was added in 1791. Stucco decoration by Francesco Starace was added to the vaulted interior in 1780 and the exquisite ceramic tiles on the floor - the work of Ignazio Chiaiese, from Naples, were completed.
The double façade, an outer and an inner, enclosing an atrium, is very unusual and unique on the Island. The outer façade with rectangular, stone entrance and gables, is repeated on the inner façade, which rises in height with two extra levels of gables forming the bell tower, balanced by two obelisks at each end, at the base.
Rectangular in plan, the interior consists of a single vaulted nave with stucco decoration and a central Marian monogram. On either side of the nave, wooden stalls face each other, on a north/south axis, creating a central plan effect. At the eastern end a dome covers the choir with its choir stalls, apse and altar. The continuous design of the floor tiles further unifies the interior, with its circles and borders, flowers and garlands, birds, peacocks, butterflies and conch shells.
The large painting behind the altar is The Madonna delle Grazie and Child, with S. Joseph and S. Roch, (1768) by Alfonso di Spigna (1697 – 1785). On the south wall is a painting of The Martyrdom of S. John the Baptist by the same artist and on the north wall a copy of The Meeting between S. John the Baptist and Jesus, by Guido Reni.
The six, elegant, paintings in the nave depict episodes from the life of the Madonna, also by Alfonso di Spigna, starting on the south wall with the Annunciation, Marriage and Immaculate Conception and correspondingly on the north wall, The Visitation, Nativity and Assumption. This church pays homage to the skills of di Spigna, like no other.
Style: Baroque
Location: Piazza Municipio, Forio
The Chiesa Del Arciconfraternita Santa Maria Visitapoveri is a jewel of a church is situated next door to the Church of S. Francesco d’Assisi, in the same piazza. Archive records indicate a very early foundation, around 1601, dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie and the Misericordia - in 1829, the title ‘Visitapoveri’ was acquired.
Construction of the church was commenced in c 1620, but was later burned down in a fire of 1670 and later rebuilt. Work was again carried out in the next century, when the façade was modified, the minstrel’s gallery with organ by Giuseppe Gallo was added in 1791. Stucco decoration by Francesco Starace was added to the vaulted interior in 1780 and the exquisite ceramic tiles on the floor - the work of Ignazio Chiaiese, from Naples, were completed.
The double façade, an outer and an inner, enclosing an atrium, is very unusual and unique on the Island. The outer façade with rectangular, stone entrance and gables, is repeated on the inner façade, which rises in height with two extra levels of gables forming the bell tower, balanced by two obelisks at each end, at the base.
Rectangular in plan, the interior consists of a single vaulted nave with stucco decoration and a central Marian monogram. On either side of the nave, wooden stalls face each other, on a north/south axis, creating a central plan effect. At the eastern end a dome covers the choir with its choir stalls, apse and altar. The continuous design of the floor tiles further unifies the interior, with its circles and borders, flowers and garlands, birds, peacocks, butterflies and conch shells.
The large painting behind the altar is The Madonna delle Grazie and Child, with S. Joseph and S. Roch, (1768) by Alfonso di Spigna (1697 – 1785). On the south wall is a painting of The Martyrdom of S. John the Baptist by the same artist and on the north wall a copy of The Meeting between S. John the Baptist and Jesus, by Guido Reni.
The six, elegant, paintings in the nave depict episodes from the life of the Madonna, also by Alfonso di Spigna, starting on the south wall with the Annunciation, Marriage and Immaculate Conception and correspondingly on the north wall, The Visitation, Nativity and Assumption. This church pays homage to the skills of di Spigna, like no other.
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