Chiesa di Sant’Eligio dei Chiavettieri

Did anyone lose their keys? We’re standing before the Chiesa di Sant’Eligio dei Chiavettieri, a church with a curious connection to locksmiths. Built in the 15th century, the Chiesa di Sant’Eligio dei Chiavettieri wasn’t always its name. It was originally called Santa Maria ad Ercole. The reasons for this are debated, with some believing it stood on the site of a Roman temple to Hercules and others attributing the name to the influential D’Ercole family. The church changed hands, ending up with the locksmiths’ guild, the ‘chiavettieri’, who gave it its current name. Imagine the sound of hammers and the scent of metal as these craftsmen plied their trade nearby. They chose Saint Eligius as their patron, a fitting choice considering he was a skilled metalworker himself. The church’s baroque interior, with its single nave and side chapels, speaks of a later renovation. Look above – that elliptical dome dates back to the 17th century, a reminder of the Congregation of Salvatore e di Santa Maria Materdei who revamped the Chiesa di Sant’Eligio dei Chiavettieri. They left their mark on this little church, a hidden gem tucked away in the heart of Naples.