Spanish Churches in 16th Century Naples and their Religious, Political, and Cultural Networks

Giorgia Palmieri

In the course of the 16th century when it was under Spanish rule, Naples established itself as one of the most populous and strategically significant cities on the European continent, playing thereby a key role within the domains of the Spanish Crown. The Iberian viceregal administration strengthened governmental institutions and consolidated its control over the city through a structured and rigorous bureaucratic and military hierarchy. At the same time, the cultural landscape was a site of significant artistic and architectural dynamism, largely fostered by aristocratic and religious patronage. The latter contributed to the construction of numerous places of worship intended for foreign communities, both Spanish and of other origins.
The objective of this study is to analyze the national churches of Spanish origin, with a particular focus on the Royal Basilica of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli, erected in 1540 by order of Viceroy Pedro de Toledo based on a design by architect and engineer Ferdinando Manlio, and the Church of Santa Maria del Monserrato, founded by a Spanish friar from the Monserrat convent in Barcelona and financed through the alms of citizens residing in the area. The aim is to shed light on the origins of these ecclesiastical institutions, their cultural and religious influence on the city, and the motivations behind their construction, situating them within the broader historical and political context of the 16th century.
Particular attention will be given to the role of ‘foreign’ figures who, as collectors and patrons, contributed to the financing and commissioning of artworks for these churches, with the clear intention of asserting and consolidating their social and political prestige.