The Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata Maggiore, a beacon of faith and resilience, stands before us. Its story is deeply woven into the fabric of Naples, a testament to the city’s enduring spirit and its profound compassion. The Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata Maggiore stands on hallowed ground. Long before it became a symbol of hope for the abandoned, it was the site of ancient Roman baths and a gymnasium. Imagine the echoes of laughter and splashing water in this very spot, centuries ago. In the 14th century, Queen Sancia of Majorca, moved by the plight of orphaned and abandoned children, granted land for a sanctuary. Thus began the Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata Maggiore’s long association with caring for the city’s most vulnerable. As you gaze upon its grand facade, you are witnessing the legacy of Luigi Vanvitelli, the architectural maestro who breathed new life into the church after a devastating fire in 1757. But the Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata Maggiore is more than just a beautiful building. It holds within its walls a poignant reminder of human vulnerability and resilience. For centuries, a small, unassuming wheel, known as the “ruota,” was embedded in the wall of the church. This was no ordinary wheel, but a beacon of hope for desperate mothers . It was through this ruota that unwanted infants, often born into poverty or illegitimacy, were anonymously entrusted to the care of the church. Imagine the heavy hearts of those mothers, forced by circumstance to part with their newborns. Yet, this act of desperation ensured the children’s survival. These children, known as “esposti” or “exposed ones,” were baptized, registered, and raised within the church’s orphanage. This practice continued until the late 19th century, shaping the lives of countless children and leaving an indelible mark on Neapolitan history. The Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata Maggiore stands not only as a testament to faith but as a poignant reminder of our shared humanity and the enduring power of hope, even in the face of adversity.
Fontana delle Conchiglie
This unassuming fountain, the Fontana delle Conchiglie, holds a secret. It wasn’t always meant to stand alone. Built in 1938