Treasury Museum of San Gennaro, Naples
Treasure Museum of San Gennaro, Naples
The Treasury Museum of San Gennaro is a special destination, essential for understanding a key aspect of Neapolitan culture: the deep devotion to the city's patron saint. It houses an extraordinary collection of silverware and jewelry, considered one of the most precious in the world, having been gifted over the centuries by monarchs, popes and celebrities in honor of the saint.
The Museum of the Treasures of San Gennaro is a place particularly worth visiting to truly understand a fundamental aspect of Neapolitan culture: the strong devotion to its patron saint. It houses the most precious collection of silver and jewelry in the world, the result of numerous donations made in homage to San Gennaro by kings, popes and luminaries over the centuries.
These pieces are not only of economic value but also of artistic importance and were produced by renowned craftsmen from the famous Neapolitan school of goldsmiths. FYI, between the 1600s and 1800s, Naples goldsmith workshops produced approximately 70% of all silver in Europe!
The collection is not only of inestimable economic value, but also of profound artistic significance, as they were created by master craftsmen of the famous Neapolitan school of goldsmiths. To give you an idea of the importance of this school, it is estimated that between the 17th and 19th centuries, Naples' goldsmith workshops created approximately 70% of all silver in Europe.
Highlights of the museum include the gilded silver tiara set with 3,692 rubies, emeralds and diamonds, and the San Gennaro Necklace, a large gold chain set with sapphires and emeralds and decorated with jewels donated over the years. These include the precious cross presented by Napoleon's brothers. The saint's treasures also include donations from ordinary citizens, such as a pair of pearl earrings donated by survivors of the 1884 cholera epidemic.
Among the most precious pieces are the gilded silver bishop's hat decorated with 3692 gems, including rubies, emeralds and diamonds, the San Gennaro necklace consisting of a large gold chain decorated with sapphires and emeralds, and donations over time of numerous jewellery. Among them, there is also a precious cross presented by Napoleon's brother. But San Gennaro's treasures also include donations from ordinary people, such as a pair of pearl earrings given to the saint by a woman who survived a cholera epidemic in 1884.
read more: tesorosangennaro.it/en
