Sansevero Chapel

To your left you can see the unassuming façade of the Sansevero Chapel. Do not let its modest exterior fool you. Inside lies an extraordinary art collection, including some thirty marble sculptures, among which are two absolute masterpieces – Modesty and The Veiled Christ, both draped in veils so delicate and translucent that they seem almost supernatural. Modesty portrays a woman completely covered by a fine veil and was sculpted by Antonio Corradini. Impressed by his work, the chapel’s patron later commissioned a life-size sculpture of a shrouded Christ. Sadly, Corradini died after creating only a rough sketch in clay. It's Giuseppe Sanmartino who we have to thank for this impressive work. His version of the Veiled Christ, lying lifeless, with the sheer marble cloth clinging to his body and revealing the wounds of the crucifixion, remains one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world. The striking realism of the veil gave rise to legends that still resonate today. Back in the 18th century, spellbound visitors believed that the chapel’s patron, Raimondo di Sangro, a Freemason and known alchemist, had passed on a secret technique that could turn real fabric into marble. So, for over 300 years, people thought the sculpture was covered in an actual veil, transformed into stone through some mystical alchemical process. But modern analysis and letters from the artist himself have laid that myth to rest once and for all. Of course, if you'd like to see it for yourself, you'll need to buy a ticket, but take my word for it, it's definitely worth it.