CAPPELLA SANT’ANNA

Information Sheet

📍 Location: Agerola, Italy
⛪ Dedicated to: Saint Anne
📅 Period: 17th century
🎨 Style: Local religious architecture
⭐ Highlights: Stone portal, historic Brancati family memorial plaques, intimate chapel atmosphere
📸 Ideal for: Local history, sacred art, photography

Description

The Chapel of Saint Anne is a small rectangular religious building distinguished by its simple architecture and its rear bell niche. It was founded in 1623 by Baron Bartolomeo Brancati and served as the private chapel of the noble Brancati family, patrons of the chapel. The Baron’s memorial plaque is still preserved inside the building.

According to local tradition, the family was connected to Cardinal Lorenzo Brancati, one of the most distinguished Franciscan theologians of the 17th century. Although historical records identify him as a native of Lauria in Basilicata rather than Agerola, the strong ties between the Brancati family and the village gave rise to the belief that he was of Agerolese origin.

Known as “the Franciscan from Basilicata who came within reach of the papacy,” Cardinal Lorenzo Brancati maintained close connections with the Brancati family of Agerola. It is believed that members of the family settled in the region, creating a lasting bond between the Cardinal and the local community.

Today, the chapel remains a valuable testimony to Agerola’s religious, artistic and noble heritage, preserving the memory of one of its most influential families.

Did You Know?

Inside the chapel are preserved two remarkable masterpieces from Golden Age Naples. The first is a painting of the Holy Family with Saint Anne, Saint Joachim and God the Father, created in 1664 by the Sicilian painter Michele Ragolia. The second, also attributed to Ragolia and dating to around 1681, depicts Saint Peter and other Saints, and is believed to include a portrait of the young Cardinal Lorenzo Brancati, making it one of the chapel’s most significant artistic treasures.