Cappella Sansevero (Cristo Velato)
Napoli (NA)
FamousSacred art
The story
Beneath a veil of marble that still seems to breathe, Sanmartino's Cristo Velato rests in the chapel's half-light, and the whiteness of the stone deceives every eye.
Access
€ ~10, online booking required, closed Tuesday, no photos
The story
The Cappella Sansevero, in the heart of Naples' old centre, is the temple that Prince Raimondo di Sangro — scientist, alchemist and seventh Prince of Sansevero — turned in the mid-eighteenth century into a masterpiece laden with symbols. Conceived as the family's private chapel, it is today one of the most celebrated museums in the city.
What to see
The heart of it all is the Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sanmartino (1753): a marble veil so thin it seems real, laid over the body of Christ. Around it, other masterpieces such as the Modesty (Pudicizia) by Antonio Corradini and the Disillusion (Disinganno) by Francesco Queirolo, and, in the room below the stairs, the famous and unsettling 'anatomical machines'.
Tips
It is one of the most sought-after visits in Naples: book your ticket online in advance, because queues and places are limited. Photography is not allowed inside. It is small: 40 minutes are enough, but it is worth arriving prepared on the figure of Raimondo di Sangro. You are in the heart of the old centre, among the decumani.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Veiled Christ?
A sculpture by Giuseppe Sanmartino from 1753, famous throughout the world for the marble veil that seems to lie over the body of the dead Christ; it is in the Cappella Sansevero in Naples.
Do you need to book for the Cappella Sansevero?
Yes: it is among the most sought-after visits in Naples, with limited entries. It is best to buy the ticket online in advance and check the hours on the official site.
Who commissioned the Cappella Sansevero?
Prince Raimondo di Sangro, seventh Prince of Sansevero, who in the mid-eighteenth century turned it into the symbolic complex we see today.
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