Palazzo Sansevero
P.za San Domenico Maggiore
Hidden gemCastles
The story
On the corner of piazza San Domenico the palace of the princes of Sangro still carries the echo of the night when Gesualdo surprised and killed Maria d'Avalos and her lover.
Access
exterior
The story
Palazzo Sansevero, or the di Sangro palace, faces Piazza San Domenico Maggiore and is the ancient residence of the di Sangro, Princes of Sansevero — the same family as Raimondo di Sangro, who a few steps away turned the Cappella Sansevero into the famous treasure chest of the Veiled Christ. The palace is tied also to an episode of Late Renaissance Naples: here, in 1590, the Prince of Venosa Carlo Gesualdo, a great madrigalist, had his wife Maria d'Avalos and her lover killed.
What to see
The palace, on the square dominated by the spire and the basilica of San Domenico Maggiore, keeps the look of the Neapolitan noble residence. It is ideally tied to the nearby Cappella Sansevero, heart of the memory of the Princes of Sansevero.
Tips
The palace is a private residence and is not visited inside: it is observed from the square, one of the salons of the old centre. To be combined with the Cappella Sansevero (Veiled Christ) and San Domenico Maggiore, which are right beside it.
Frequently asked questions
What is Palazzo Sansevero?
The ancient residence of the di Sangro, Princes of Sansevero, in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, tied to the same family as Raimondo di Sangro of the Cappella Sansevero.
What happened at Palazzo Sansevero in 1590?
The double murder ordered by Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, against his wife Maria d'Avalos and her lover took place there: a famous episode of Neapolitan Renaissance history.
Can you visit Palazzo Sansevero?
It is a private residence and is not visitable inside; it is admired from Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, next to the Cappella Sansevero.
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