entry July 2003
The Pontano
Chapel
The Pontano Chapel is the small grey
building at the western end of Via Tribunali in the
historic center of the city (#37
on the map of the historic center). The perfect
classic Roman design is attributed to Giocondo da Verona
and was built in 1492 by Giovanni Pontano to be a family
chapel.
Pontano (1426-1503) was
the most celebrated Neapolitan humanist of the day, a
friend of the sovereign of Naples, Alfonso the
Magnanimous, and, indeed, tutor of the king's sons. He
was important as a diplomat for the Aragonese in Naples,
but his claim upon history is as a poet and scholar.
Pontano is often referred to as the last great poet in
the Latin language. He founded in Naples what was called
"The Academy" —a meeting place for the erudite. The
Academy was influential among men of letters not only in
the Kingdom of Naples, but elsewhere in Italy.
Subsequently it became known as the Pontanian Academy,
and its influence lasted well beyond the lifetime of the
founder. (Pontano is the author of
De Principe, a well-know example of Speculum literature from the
Middle Ages.)
Adjacent
to that chapel is the church of S. Maria Maggiore
della Pietrasanta. It was built in 533 and is one
of the paleo-Christian churches
in Naples. Its origins involve one of the weirdest tales
of ancient Naples. In 533, the Virgin Mary is said to
have appeared to Bishop Pomponius of Naples and
commanded him to chase away a swine possessed of the
devil that had been frightening citizens of the area. He
did and then built and consecrated this church on the
site of an earlier temple dedicated to Diana. The church
was considered one of the most impressive examples of
early Christian architecture. The relatively
modern appearance of the church is due to the
reconstruction of 1653.The remarkable red-brick belfry
(photo, right) on the grounds is the oldest
free-standing tower of its kind in Naples. It was part
of the original church complex, though built later (c.
900 a.d.). The base of the tower (upper photo)
incorporates earlier Roman bits and pieces as
construction material, some of which are said to be part
of the earlier temple.
(For an item on exploring the great cavern beneath(!) this site, click here.)
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