'The 10 Wonders of the Treasure of San Gennaro. The stones of Devotion and the Jewels '

Thanks to the extraordinary success and numerous requests from all over Italy, has been delayed closing of the exhibition "The 10 Wonders of the Treasury of San Gennaro."

From June 12 all the masterpieces have returned in the Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro where can be still admired, with the legendary jewels.

It’s certainly an event: the treasure of the Neapolitan patron is, indie, one of the most valued in the world, either for its artistic and financial value, superior in its richness to the Treasure of the British Crowne as well as to the Russian Tzar’s . The expert preferred not to estimate the masterpieces and the jewels as, they say, they are invaluable.

WHERE
Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro >  where the ‘Ten wonders’ will be exposed (please find details below)

With a unique ticket, the visitor will be able to admire all this wonders.
For info and details: www.museosangennaro.it |T. +39  081 294980 - 081 3442286

THE TEN WONDERS

NECKLACE OF SAN GENNARO

In the picture, the necklace of San Gennaro, result of 200 year donations from all royal houses in Europe passing through Naples. The necklace was begun in 1679, wanted by the Deputation of the Chapel of San Gennaro, and then developed with the gifts of King Charles III of Bourbon, of his wife, the Queen Maria Amalia of Saxony, of the Queen Maria Carolina of Austria, wife of  Ferdinand II of Bourbon, of Joseph Bonaparte, of Maria Cristina, of Casa Calendula up to 1879 with the gifts of Vittorio Emanuele I of Savoy. A curiosity concerns Maria Josè, wife of Umberto II of Savoy, who, in 1931, visited privately the Chapel of San Gennaro and, having brought nothing to donate, she took off the ring and earrings she was wearing and gave them for the patron. These gifts are now on the necklace of San Gennaro.

ALTAR CRUCIFIX 1707

Not much of information over this donation is available; we just know it was donated by the Spera family, that the very rare coral is from Sciacca (Sicily) and that this is the unique example of cross with coral survived to theft and financing during wars. What is to remember is that the importance of the treasure of San Gennaro  is also determined by the fact that it remained untouched as no wars were never financed by a king of Naples, nor  divestment were operate nor was there any theft. That’s why it is the most important treasure in the world with 21 720 masterpieces.

MITRE WITH GEMS 1713

This masterpiece is to be considered the most precious object in the world: it was realized in a year time by the goldsmith Matteo Treglia to whom the Deputation commissioned the work in 1712, but with contract conditions really strict: the gems would have been estimated by the Deputation itself, the project should have been estimated by a commission elected by the Deputation and Treglia had one year to deliver the Miter otherwise he would have paid a penalty higher than the Miter value. Matteo Treglia delivered the masterpiece in large advance.

CUP WITH GEMS OF FREDERIC IV 1761

Charles III of Bourbon became in 1756, King of Spain and had to leave Naples and the Kingdom to his son Ferdinando I, who was only 8, and with the regency of some trusted ministers as Tanucci.  King Ferdinando I, as per tradition, commissioned a gift for the Patron Saint to the famous jeweler Michele Lofrano who created this magnificent Cup.

OSTENSORY IN GOLDENED SILVER AND GEMS 1808

The strength, the power of San Gennaro and his people devotion are witnessed by this gorgeous ostensory. The Bonaparte, wherever they went, they always predated war trophies that were brought to Paris, many of which are today at the Louvre. This did not happen in Naples; on the contrary, both Joseph Bonaparte, who donated a wonderful cross with diamonds and emeralds, and Gioacchino Murat, with this ostensory, wanted to pay homage to Saint Gennaro and to Neapolitans.

PYX WITH CROSS AND GEMS 1831

When King Ferdinand II of Bourbon became king he paid, as the tradition said, homage to San Gennaro with the gift of this pyx for which he sent, all over Europe, the best Neapolitan goldsmiths in search of gems to decorate it. The result is a pyx considered the most beautiful object of the treasure.

OSTENSORY OF  MARIA THERESA OF AUSTRIA 1837

After the death of  Maria Christine of  Savoy, wife of king Ferdinand II, after one year, the king married Maria Theresa of Austria. The Queen was considered by Neapolitans unsmiling and unpleasant, so she decided strategically, to donate this ostensory to Saint Gennaro whatever the expense was. This masterpiece was created by one of the most important Neapolitan goldsmiths, Gaspare De Angelis, who used emeralds, rubys, diamonds, sapphires and pearls.

CHALICE WITH CASE AND PATEN 1849

The night of Nov. 25th 1848 began the 2 year exile of Pope Pio IX in the Kingdom of Two Sicilies because of the riots in Rome. As soon as King Ferdinando II learnt of the exile, he went immediately by boat to Gaeta, with all his family, to convince the pope to stay in Mola di Gaeta  and then to go to the Royal Palace of Portici.
When the riots finished, Pope Pio IX went back to Rome but to thank King Ferdinando II and Neapolitans, he donated this chalice which cost almost 3000 ducats. The best coach with 4 horses, which could be today a deluxe car, at that time, cost almost 30 ducats.

GOLDEN BISHOP CRUCIFIX WITH EMERALDS AND DIAMONDS

17 November 1878, Margherita and Umberto I of Savoy are crowned and Margherita becomes the first Queen of Italy united. The Royal Couple is celebrated by the Neapolitan people but nearby the street of San Giovanni alla Carbonara, they are threatened by Giovanni Passanante, a 29 year olf chef .  On their coach there was also the premier Benedetto Cairoli, who protected the king and was wounded at a leg.  Shocked by the attempt and for being still alive, the Queen decided to return to Naples and thank Saint Gennaro with the gift of the cross while a Neapolitan pizza maker dedicated her a pizza with the colours of the Italian flag (red tomato, white mozzarella and green basil) which was called with the name of the queen : pizza Margherita.

GOLDEN PYX WITH CORAL AND MALACHITE 1931

On 4 November 1931, the Royal couple arrived in Naples and stayed at the Royal Palace. They had lived firt in Turin and this turned Neapolitans sad and angry. So, their first greeting to the city was from the Duomo of Saint Gennaro, where for 4 centuries all the realties kings received the recognition from their people. They were celebrated so by the Neapolitans with joy and donated the marvelous golden pyx commissioned to the Ascione family of Torre del Greco. This was the last royal gift made to Saint Gennaro.