SOME SITES OF INTEREST
Church of the Virgin of
Graces
It was the Cathedral of Massa Lubrense from its foundation (1512-1543) until 1797. It has a plan in the style of the 1500s and was completely rebuilt in 1760 by Bishop Bellotti and the Episcopio was added.
The church has three aisles with transept and apse. Amongst the many pieces of art there are paintings of Cardisco and of Negroni.
Noteworthy is the sacristy adorned by the
ovals of the Bishops of Massa Lubrense and wooden furniture of the 1700s.
Convent and Church of
St.
Francis
In 1582, dedicated to the Virgin of Health, the church was built by the noble Liparulo family who also built the tower. Later the two buildings were annexed to the convent now occupied by Padri Minimi.
In the church and in the sacristy there is an interesting majolica floor of the XVIII century; among the other artistic works there is a noteworthy wooden statue of the Virgin (XV century).
On the 15th of August Feast day of the Assunta: procession on foot from the church the the port and then by boats, tasting of traditional food.
Church of the Virgin of the
Annunciation
Built in the 1400s, it underwent many changes up to the 1700s. It is interesting for the richness of the furniture, the floor and the magnificent altar in inlaid marble with angels and an oval elegantly carved.
Located in the
adjoining convent, there is a little diocesan museum, rich with sacred clothing.
The church (XVII century), recently restored, presents valuable stuccoes, an interesting majolica floor of the XVIII century and a beautiful facade of 1689.
In the attached conservatory of the Discalced Carmelite nuns there is an important collection of hundreds of wooden busts and arms containing relics of the saints martyrs of the beginning of Christianity coming from roman catacombs.
Hill
and Monastery of "The Desert"
The monastery and in particular its famous belvedere above the Gulfs of
Naples and Salerno made this site one of the most celebrated of Campania. During
the "Grand Tour" this was one of the most frequent stops. After the
recent restoration, the monastery is reacquiring its ancient magnificence.
To the monastery, built during the first half of the XVIII century, is
attached a church with two wide semicircular stairways. Both the majolica floor
of the church and the cloister (with a majolica panel attributed to Chiaiese,
famous Neapolitan majolica painter of the XVIII century) are worth a visit. Ask
for permit at the Monastery entrance.
Recently restored, this church of the XVI century presents an interesting
majolica floor with decoration of the 1700s, fine stuccoes and beautiful
paintings of the same age. Noteworthy is one of Guido Reni's masterpieces,
representing the Holy Family, given by the painter to the De Curtis family that
gave him hospitality. Church of
St. Agata
The church (XVI century) has a late renaissance structure and is famous
for the very precious altar attributed to the Florence School of the XVII
century.
It is a masterpiece, that has no equal in the region, with very fine
and elaborate inlaid work of mother-of-pearl, lapis-lazuli, malachite and every
type of precious marble.
It is the highest hill of the territory of Massa and has two peaks. On
top of the eastern one (486 m) the white small Chapel of St. Costanzo (XV
century) stands out. Walking around the building you can enjoy great panoramas
over both Gulfs and Monti Lattari. The other peak is not accessible, but the
trails that go hillside (around) offer delightful views over the very close
island of Capri.
The very tip of the Surrentine peninsula , vertex between the Bay of
Naples and the Gulf of Salerno, is only 5 km away from Capri. Here there was the
Greek Temple of Athena (Athenaion) later dedicated to Minerva (Promonturium
Minervae). The few ruins nowadays visible belong to a roman villa of the I-II
century. Few meters downhill there is Minerva Tower, built in 1334 and remade in
1567.
The
detail of the small sized head of Athena is an example of the terracotta
production, coming from the votive hollow of the Sanctuary dedicated to the
goddess and located at Punta Campanella (Municipality of Massa Lubrense). The
statuette to which the head belongs, was produced in two separate parts, then
joined. Together with other statuettes made of terracotta (4th-2nd century b.C),
it is a votive object of the sanctuary located in Capo Ateneo, built by Ulysses.
The detail shown represents Athena wearing an helmet; two terracotta tablets
hold decorative ear-drop. The rendering of the oval face, recalls a nicely
evolved style in the manufactory of terracotta.
Ex convent of Jesuits
and Torrione
It was built at the beginning of the XVII century on the ruins of the
Villa of the Queen Joan of Anjou (XV century) and dominates the ancient district
of Guarazzano. Known as the Quartiere,
it is connected with an arch to a massive defensive tower called Torrione.
Since the XV century it has been the house of the De Martino family, one of whom, Ferrante, had the nickname of Rachione and this is the actual name of the district.
Of interest is the colonnade in
tuff with marble busts and the Ninfeo located at the end of the path. In the
1600s the Chapel of St. John the Baptist was adjoined. Castle of Massa
(XIV-XVII century)
Nowadays only the cylindrical tower and the trunk-pyramidal shaped
bastion/tank that dominate the hill can be seen. At least four more bastions,
with the muraglia (wall), enclosed the
town of Massa of the 1300s. The castle was rebuilt in the present shape after
the Turkish invasion of 1558.
For its location, in front of Capri, this villa was chosen, in 1808, by Gioacchino Murat King of Naples to direct the victorious siege to the island occupied by the English.
In the same villa (October 17th) their surrender was
signed by Hudson Lowe, who some years later was the jailer of Napoleon on the
Island of St.Helena.
