The Basilica of Gesù Vecchio is one of the basilicas of Naples Italy; it is located in Giovanni Paladino Street, in the heart of the historic city center. The temple is called Basilica of Gesù Vecchio due to the fact that later, due to the expansion of the Society of Jesus, a new much larger church was built a short distance away, known as the Church of Nuovo Gesù (or of the Greater Trinity). It was the first Jesuit church in Naples Italy: its construction began in 1555 and it became the first place of worship for the Order of the Society of Jesus in the city.
The church has a facade, built in the late seventeenth century by Giovan Domenico Vinaccia, in baroque style with a slightly convex shape: in the center there is the entrance door, surmounted by a large rectangular window. The interior of the Basilica of Gesù Vecchio has a latin cross architectural structure, with a single nave and side chapels, and preserves numerous works of art. The main altar contains a sculpture of the Immaculate that belonged to Don Placido. Very well known is the Feast of the Privileged Saturday falls on the first Saturday after December 30th; since 1826, the year in which Don Placido Baccher’s Madonnina was crowned by the Vatican Chapter and declared Protectress of Naples Italy.
Almost two centuries have passed since then and the tradition of the Privileged Saturday and Placido’s Madonnina still attract many pilgrims today. The procession lasts a whole day and involves all the streets adjacent to the Basilica of Gesù Vecchio. While at the main altar, Holy Masses are celebrated uninterruptedly, pilgrims climb the stairs leading in front of the Madonna. There are those who invoke her intercession and those who thank her for a healed disease or for a child born.The tradition was born at the behest of Don Placido Baccher, a priest who had considerable gratitude and veneration towards the Immaculate ConLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elitception for having freed him from prison and from a death sentence. If you are planning your holiday to visit Naples Italy, visit the Basilica of Gesù Vecchio is one of the things to do.
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- Distance 900 meters form Dante Metro Station
