Complesso Monumentale Dei Girolamini: A Baroque Masterpiece

The Complesso Monumentale dei Girolamini, also known as the Complex of San Filippo Neri, is located in the heart of Naples, straddling Via Duomo and Via dei Tribunali. This extensive site encompasses a church, two cloisters, a library, and an art gallery. The complex owes its name to a Neapolitan adaptation of the church of San Girolamo della Carità in Rome, where the followers of San Filippo Neri first gathered. Construction began in 1586 when the Filippini Oratorians settled in Naples. They acquired and demolished palaces facing the Duomo to create space for the church. The basilica is considered one of Naples' finest medieval buildings. The main facade faces Largo dei Girolamini on Via dei Tribunali, while the entrance is on Via Duomo. Inside, the Baroque style is evident, with gold decorations leading it to be called a “Domus Aurea”. The adjacent 17th-century convent boasts two cloisters and a gallery with Neapolitan masterpieces from the 16th to 18th centuries. The library is the oldest in Naples, once frequented by notable figures like Giambattista Vico and Benedetto Croce. The Girolamini complex has undergone periods of difficulty, including a major scandal in 2012 involving the theft of rare books. Following restoration, the complex reopened to the public, with the Church of San Filippo Neri reopening in March 2024.