CHIESA DI SAN VITO
Latest update: 19 March 2022
CHIESA DI SAN VITO
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Constructed: 18th century
Location: Via San Vito, Forio
Away from the centre of Forio, with a very ancient history dating back to the 14th c, this very large church, Chiesa di San Vito is dedicated to San Vito, the Patron Saint of Forio. S. Vito was born in Sicily in 290 AD and his Feast Day is 15th June. The Church was elevated to its present status as a Cathedral/Duomo in 1988.
Reconstruction and enlargement of the old church was carried out in 1735, the façade being constructed in the 19th c with a classical temple frontage between two bell towers with ice cream cone caps. The focal point of the façade is the 19th c tiled ceramic depiction of S. Vito dated 1881, by an unknown ceramicist.
The bell, the largest on the Island of Ischia, was made from canons from the Castel Nuovo, given by the Bourbon King, Ferdinand II in 1852, and melted down and remoulded.
The Cathedral also has a library of thousands of books, some very old and many from the convent of S. Francis, when it closed.
The interior arrangement of space, superbly decorated with stucco details by the Neopolitan artist, Cesare Starace (active 18th c), is in the form of a Latin Cross with central nave and side aisles and an attractive minstrels gallery at the Western End, housing the 18th c organ.
To the right of the main entrance is a beautiful 15th/16th wooden polyptych which frames a later painting of the Madonna & Child with saints and in small roundels above, the Annunciation with the Crucifixion at the apex – probably painted by Cesare Calise (c 1588 – 1641). And to the left of the entrance is an interesting 16th/17th c painting by an unknown artist, of the martyrdom of S. Catherine of Alexandria on a spiked wheel – the painting depicts the moment when a divine wind frees her from this torture and sends everyone scattering in all directions.
Behind the main altar is a beautiful and very large painting – the largest on the island, of The Virgin and Child & SS. Vito and Catherine of Alexandria (1745) with the Holy Trinity above and a panoramic view of Forio below, by the local artist from Lecco Ameno, Alfonso di Spigna (1697 – 1785).
On right side of the main altar is a large unattractive painting of a statuesque Maddalena (1710) by local artist, Domenico Antonio Verde from Forio and on the other side the Trinity with S. Gennaro & S. Cecilia (1636) by Cesare Calise.
An interesting painting by a female artist, of the Holy Family with S. Anna & S. Joachim (1680) is signed by Anna Maria Manecchia, whose father and husband were also artists.
The most valuable icon in the church is the statue of S. Vito in silver, holding aloft a bunch of grapes – he is believed to have saved grape cultivation on the Island from disease. His other attributes of the lion and wolf, relate to his taming of these wild animals. The statue is carried in procession on the saint’s feast day, as a symbol of peace. The statue is kept under lock and key and viewing is by special arrangement.
Location: Via San Vito, Forio
Away from the centre of Forio, with a very ancient history dating back to the 14th c, this very large church, Chiesa di San Vito is dedicated to San Vito, the Patron Saint of Forio. S. Vito was born in Sicily in 290 AD and his Feast Day is 15th June. The Church was elevated to its present status as a Cathedral/Duomo in 1988.
Reconstruction and enlargement of the old church was carried out in 1735, the façade being constructed in the 19th c with a classical temple frontage between two bell towers with ice cream cone caps. The focal point of the façade is the 19th c tiled ceramic depiction of S. Vito dated 1881, by an unknown ceramicist.
The bell, the largest on the Island of Ischia, was made from canons from the Castel Nuovo, given by the Bourbon King, Ferdinand II in 1852, and melted down and remoulded.
The Cathedral also has a library of thousands of books, some very old and many from the convent of S. Francis, when it closed.
The interior arrangement of space, superbly decorated with stucco details by the Neopolitan artist, Cesare Starace (active 18th c), is in the form of a Latin Cross with central nave and side aisles and an attractive minstrels gallery at the Western End, housing the 18th c organ.
To the right of the main entrance is a beautiful 15th/16th wooden polyptych which frames a later painting of the Madonna & Child with saints and in small roundels above, the Annunciation with the Crucifixion at the apex – probably painted by Cesare Calise (c 1588 – 1641). And to the left of the entrance is an interesting 16th/17th c painting by an unknown artist, of the martyrdom of S. Catherine of Alexandria on a spiked wheel – the painting depicts the moment when a divine wind frees her from this torture and sends everyone scattering in all directions.
Behind the main altar is a beautiful and very large painting – the largest on the island, of The Virgin and Child & SS. Vito and Catherine of Alexandria (1745) with the Holy Trinity above and a panoramic view of Forio below, by the local artist from Lecco Ameno, Alfonso di Spigna (1697 – 1785).
On right side of the main altar is a large unattractive painting of a statuesque Maddalena (1710) by local artist, Domenico Antonio Verde from Forio and on the other side the Trinity with S. Gennaro & S. Cecilia (1636) by Cesare Calise.
An interesting painting by a female artist, of the Holy Family with S. Anna & S. Joachim (1680) is signed by Anna Maria Manecchia, whose father and husband were also artists.
The most valuable icon in the church is the statue of S. Vito in silver, holding aloft a bunch of grapes – he is believed to have saved grape cultivation on the Island from disease. His other attributes of the lion and wolf, relate to his taming of these wild animals. The statue is carried in procession on the saint’s feast day, as a symbol of peace. The statue is kept under lock and key and viewing is by special arrangement.
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