CHIESA DI SAN FRANCESCO DI PAOLA
CHIESA DI SAN FRANCESCO DI PAOLA
Guide to Chiesa di San Francesco di Paola church in Ischia with photos, directions and history.
Church of S. Francesco di Paola
Constructed:19th & 20th centuries
Location: Via Tommaso Cigliano, Forio
Perched on the rocky slopes of the Hill of Zaro, not far from the famous ‘Giardini La Mortella’ half way down to the famous San Francesco beach at Forio, the Church of S. Francesco di Paola with its pink and white colour scheme, is clearly visible, from the valley below. The façade with its classical temple front and imposing bell tower in the same style, creates a wonderfully dignified exterior.
Its history goes back to the ancient hermitage founded in the 16th c called Santa Maria di Montevergine, taking its name from the altarpiece by Cesare Calise of the ‘Virgin and Child, with Saints Catherine of Alexandria and Francis of Paola’. Rooms to the side of the church were used by a group of monks, dedicated to prayer and meditation. In 1863, their Order was dissolved and care of the church was transferred to a chaplain. At this time too, much work was done to enlarge and restructure the church and in 1924, the church assumed its present title. Further work was carried out in 1948, when the bell tower was erected and the area in front of the church was landscaped.
The façade is articulated by pilasters, with the central bay wider than the side bays and the emphasis on this entrance is continued in the height of the doorway with its segmental pediment. To the right and left are two smaller doors with rectangular windows above. A continuous entablature runs through to the imposing, bell tower, linking it visually, to the main structure of the church.
On the north side of the church is the double story ‘hermitage’ with its arcades, which in the past provided living quarters for the monks but is now privately owned, offering holiday accommodation.
The interior of the church is somewhat confusing, consisting of a nave and side aisles with chapels on the south side. The nave is divided into segments, partly barrel vaulted, followed by a shallow dome supported on pendentives, preceding a dome over the crossing, set on a high drum. The side aisles and chapels are also barrel vaulted with some decorative coffering.
Worth noting on the south wall of the choir, are the two cherubs in marble sculpted by an unknown artist in the 18th c and the imposing gilded, silver and carved wood ecclesiastical throne, the work of an unknown craftsman of the 18th c.
Interestingly, the main altarpiece, which gives the church its name, painted by Cesare Calise in 1633, was re-touched and restored by another of the Island’s resident artists, Alfonso di Spigna in 1774. Whilst preserving the style of Calise in the main, his own style can be seen in the figure of the Virgin. She turns gracefully towards S. Francis of Paola, in the lower foreground, dressed in his brown monk’s habit, looking out at the viewer, whilst S. Catherine, holding the sword of her martyrdom, looks up towards the Christ Child, who stretches out a protective hand toward her.
S. Francis of Paola (1416 – 1507) of course, is not to be confused with S. Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226) who founded the Franciscan Order. The former was born in Paola, a town in the south of Italy and founded the Order of Minims, but was never ordained a priest. He lived much of his life as a hermit, and was renowned for his gift of prophecy and for the miracles he performed.
Constructed:19th & 20th centuries
Location: Via Tommaso Cigliano, Forio
Perched on the rocky slopes of the Hill of Zaro, not far from the famous ‘Giardini La Mortella’ half way down to the famous San Francesco beach at Forio, the Church of S. Francesco di Paola with its pink and white colour scheme, is clearly visible, from the valley below. The façade with its classical temple front and imposing bell tower in the same style, creates a wonderfully dignified exterior.
Its history goes back to the ancient hermitage founded in the 16th c called Santa Maria di Montevergine, taking its name from the altarpiece by Cesare Calise of the ‘Virgin and Child, with Saints Catherine of Alexandria and Francis of Paola’. Rooms to the side of the church were used by a group of monks, dedicated to prayer and meditation. In 1863, their Order was dissolved and care of the church was transferred to a chaplain. At this time too, much work was done to enlarge and restructure the church and in 1924, the church assumed its present title. Further work was carried out in 1948, when the bell tower was erected and the area in front of the church was landscaped.
The façade is articulated by pilasters, with the central bay wider than the side bays and the emphasis on this entrance is continued in the height of the doorway with its segmental pediment. To the right and left are two smaller doors with rectangular windows above. A continuous entablature runs through to the imposing, bell tower, linking it visually, to the main structure of the church.
On the north side of the church is the double story ‘hermitage’ with its arcades, which in the past provided living quarters for the monks but is now privately owned, offering holiday accommodation.
The interior of the church is somewhat confusing, consisting of a nave and side aisles with chapels on the south side. The nave is divided into segments, partly barrel vaulted, followed by a shallow dome supported on pendentives, preceding a dome over the crossing, set on a high drum. The side aisles and chapels are also barrel vaulted with some decorative coffering.
Worth noting on the south wall of the choir, are the two cherubs in marble sculpted by an unknown artist in the 18th c and the imposing gilded, silver and carved wood ecclesiastical throne, the work of an unknown craftsman of the 18th c.
Interestingly, the main altarpiece, which gives the church its name, painted by Cesare Calise in 1633, was re-touched and restored by another of the Island’s resident artists, Alfonso di Spigna in 1774. Whilst preserving the style of Calise in the main, his own style can be seen in the figure of the Virgin. She turns gracefully towards S. Francis of Paola, in the lower foreground, dressed in his brown monk’s habit, looking out at the viewer, whilst S. Catherine, holding the sword of her martyrdom, looks up towards the Christ Child, who stretches out a protective hand toward her.
S. Francis of Paola (1416 – 1507) of course, is not to be confused with S. Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226) who founded the Franciscan Order. The former was born in Paola, a town in the south of Italy and founded the Order of Minims, but was never ordained a priest. He lived much of his life as a hermit, and was renowned for his gift of prophecy and for the miracles he performed.
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