Church of Gesù Vecchio

The "Gesù Vecchio": Where the Story Began

In the cultured and vibrant labyrinth of the university quarter, a question naturally comes to mind: if the "Gesù Nuovo" (New Jesus) stands in Piazza del Gesù, where, then, is the "Gesù Vecchio" (Old Jesus)?

The answer is a hidden treasure just a few steps away, nestled in the beating heart of the Federico II University: the Basilica Sanctuary of Gesù Vecchio.

This is not just a church; it is an origin. It was the first great church that the Jesuit Fathers built in Naples in the mid-1500s. It was their headquarters, the centre of their preaching, a cultural and spiritual hub. It became "Old" only chronologically, when, decades later, the Society of Jesus acquired the magnificent Palazzo Sanseverino to transform it into the "Gesù Nuovo," which was destined for more overt fame.

But the "Gesù Vecchio" has preserved a different, more intimate soul. Its history merges with that of the University that surrounds it today, but above all, with the figure of a venerable priest who shaped its identity: Don Placido Baccher.

He is the "Apostle of the Immaculate," the man who, between the 18th and 19th centuries, indissolubly linked this basilica to the cult of the "Madonnina." It is thanks to his tireless faith that the church became a sanctuary beloved by the people, a refuge for students, professors, and worshippers.

To enter here means discovering a treasure chest of Baroque art, surprising in its richness. Do not be deceived by the restrained façade; the interior houses the works of great masters. You will find the grace of Francesco De Mura, the intensity of Marco Pino da Siena, and the dramatic power of the school of Francesco Solimena.

Visiting the Gesù Vecchio means discovering the "first chapter" of one of Naples' most important religious and artistic histories. It is an experience that takes you away from the main tourist paths to offer a more intimate narrative: a story of primacy, of unshakeable popular devotion, and of superb art that dialogues every day with the city's future.