Statue of St. Cajetan, Naples
The statue of St. Cajetan in Naples was erected in honour of a Catholic martyr. It is located in the historical centre of the city between the Basilicas of San Paolo Maggiore and San Lorenzo Maggiore. One of the most interesting monuments of the old city, the statue was created in the middle of the 17th century.
History of the Statue of San Cajetan
The statue was set in Naples as a token of gratitude to the saint for saving the city from the plague epidemic in 1656. In August of that year, a group of priests left the town hall in San Lorenzo Maggiore and, barefoot, with a rope around their necks, went to the neighbouring church of San Paolo Maggiore. The priests appealed to the Saint with a plea to free the city from the terrible epidemic. Suddenly, when the plague was already in full swing, the epidemic abated. Since that moment no reports of fatal cases were made.
The project of the bronze statue the work on which lasted from 1657 to 1664 belongs to two Italian sculptors – Cosimo Fanzago and Andrea Falcone.
The monument to San Cajetan in Naples is based on a stone pedestal. At the feet of the martyr, two angels hold a cross and a wreath. San Cajetan raises his arms to the sky as if asking for mercy to the inhabitants of Naples, praying that God saves and protects them from all misfortunes. Above his head is an intricately made halo.
How to get there
The statue of St. Cajetan is located in the central part of Naples. Is it possible to get there by public transport:
- Bus 130, 139, 150, 168, 178.
- Metro – line 1, line 2.
