«#quantaluce – says Carlo Arace – is an art project/photo which aims Naples dress in a different light, full, high beam that leaves visitors breathless as a tourist who sees it for the first time in our city. The idea – still – is to tie inextricably Partenope photography, putting aside preconceptions and stereotypes that have always characterized these places».

With the light, a key element in the picture, you can play forever. So is Naples: bright and lively on the waterfront and is reflected on the rocks, but also hidden in the alleys of downtown neighborhoods. A contrast of light and shadow, as in a picture.

L'articolo Naples, #quantaluce in the majolica Cloister of Santa Chiara proviene da Charme.

“Ori, silver, gems and enamels of the Angevin Naples”
from 12 October to 31 December 2014
Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro in Via Duomo 149, Naples.
Ticket Price: 3.00 EUR
Contact and information: 081.294980

L'articolo The precious of Partenope, on display at the Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro proviene da Charme.

Now, after the approval of the project by the Superintendent and the intervention of the Municipality Advocate-Montecalvario chaired by Francesco Chirico, what once was an oasis of green, it will return to be, in the guise of a public park in the heart of Old Town.
And they were just wanting to local residents who have asked playground, benches and reading areas and also access with a slide for the disabled.
But that’s not all because they will be also introduced new trees and protected the precious tree species and historical (the pine trees, in particular).
But the wait is largest for the church tower of the citadel, owned by the Fund places of worship.
You can say, with some regret, that it is a monument virtually unknown to the Neapolitans, now closed since World War II, which was accessed through a building, then bombed.
Hence the impossibility of access to the monument today, except through a spiral staircase in piperno, which, however, makes the arduous climb.
And to avoid this, we will launch a competition for the design of a new scale, in collaboration with the ANIAI Campania (National Association of Italian architects and engineers), headed by Alessandro Castagnaro.
As they say, who starts well is half the battle …

“Monumental Complex of St. Chiara” 
Via Santa Chiara, 49 / c, Naples, tel: 0817971224

L'articolo The Campanile of Santa Chiara soon restored, back accessible to citizens proviene da Charme.

More used to the food in the kitchen, the food festival is dedicated to “How May on macaroni” which will be held for five days, from May 29 to June 2, 2014, in Naples, in the courtyard of the monastery of Santa Chiara.
This is the first exhibition dedicated solely to the pasta and its undisputed beneficial properties for the body and spirit and it is no coincidence that the event is taken right in the capital of Campania Naples because we remember that in 1600 became the capital of Pasta and has since maintained this coveted record intact.

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So, thanks to the simple but successful union between water and grain, the courtyard of Santa Chiara will turn into a real Neapolitan typical village of 600, complete with a tavern where visitors can taste the pasta in different variations, and some products typical of the area, reliving the festive spirit of the old Naples. The entrance area of the citadel of the Franciscans is strictly free.

Space then workshops, tastings and cooking shows, in collaboration with students and faculty of the school Vittorio Veneto Secondigliano – Scampia.
But not over here! The festival has called Naples, in fact, two very interesting competitions that will test all the master chefs who want to try their hand in creating dishes of 600. Obviously based on pasta.

Two races scheduled for 31 May and 1 June. A based Genovese, and a  ragù. Up for grabs for the winners of a weekend for two people in the Cilento and 20 kg of pasta.
Recall that the dishes will be cooked in their own homes and delivered to the organizing secretary of the festival by 15.00, at booth kitchens. Afterwards, at 18.00, will start the tasting by a panel of journalists who judge the wine sauces prepared and will elect the winners.

“As the Maggio on macaroni”
May 29 – 2giugno 2014
Hours: 29 and 30 May from 18.00 to 24.00 ; on 31 May and 1 and 2 June from 11.00 to 24.00
Admission: Free
Courtyard of the Church of Santa Chiara

For more information: http://www.comeilmaggiosuimaccheroni.it/

L'articolo Tradition and flavors of Naples relive in the festival dedicated to pasta and its delicious variations proviene da Charme.

In front of Gesù Nuovo, right in the heart of Decumani, centre of the Greek and Roman Neapolis, stands the church of Santa Chiara, built near the old western walls (today piazza del Gesù Nuovo), between 1310 and 1340, thanks to Robert of Anjou and the queen Sancha of Aragon.

The complex was erected on the remains of Roman therms dated to the I century A.C., whose findings can be seen under the foundations of the monastery and into the halls of Museum of Opera di Santa Chiara, showing also findings of Angevin period (XIV century).

This church, sober and impressive, hosts the tomb of King Robert of Anjou, behind the high altar, and the Bourbon funerary chapel. Near the entrance there is the grave of Salvo d’Acquisto, the officer who during World War II saved a group a civilians from the Nazis at cost of his own life. The monastery is famous worldwide for the splendid majolica cloister, made in 1742 by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro, who covered the entire structure and the 72 pillars with wonderful polychrome tiles, created by the Neapolitans “riggiolari” Donato e Giuseppe Massa.

Walking along the Decumani, there is another temple of Christian faith “made in Partenope”: the church of San Domenico Maggiore.

Built between 1283 and 1324 under King Charles II of Anjou on the remains of a X century church, it was restyled with Baroque taste, after being damaged by numerous earthquakes during the XV century. It is famous for the rectangular Sacristy, with marble floors and suggestive wooden details. It hosts 45 tombs of Neapolitan nobles, especially from the Aragona family. There are paintings by Tommaso De Vivo, Pietro Cavallini, Solimena and the marvellous high altar made by Cosimo Fanzago. In this church the poet Boccaccio studied law, but it was in a nearby church that the author of Decameron met the love of his life, Fiammetta, precisely in San Lorenzo Maggiore, set in via San Gregorio Armeno and “twin” of San Domenico because it was commissioned during the same period by King Charles of Anjou.

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Between 1600 and 1700 San Lorenzo was restyled according to Baroque taste, but the restorations of the XX century brought to light its original Gothic forms.

It has a striking 1700 façade, made by Ferdinando Sanfelice, with a XIV century marble portal, and it is enriched by numerous work of art, like the Tomb of Catherine of Austria, sculpted by Tino from Camaino (1323) and the Sant’Antonio Chapel, made by Cosimo Fanzago (1638).

In the Mercato area, where once stood the city walls, there is Santa Maria del Carmine. This church, with the highest bell tower of Naples (75 metres), was built at the beginning of 1300 on the foundations of a church where was venerated the icon of “Madonna Bruna”, a XIII century painting. There is the tomb of Conrad of Swabia, the last emperor of Sacred Roman Empire beheaded as a child in 1268 in piazza Mercato by King Charles of Anjou. In the cloister of this church was killed on 16 July 1647 the heroic fishmonger Masaniello. Every year on the 16^th of July, for the Madonna del Carmine festival, the bell tower is “burnt” by the means of fireworks to recall a Saracen siege foiled by the Christians. At the entrance, there is a wooden miraculous Christ, who in 1439 lowered his head to avoid a shot exploded during a siege made by Alfonso of Aragon.

Another wonderful church is San Giovanni a Carbonara, set triumphantly on the top of a stair made by Ferdinando Sanfelice (1707). It was build in 1343 by King Ladislao of Durazzo, whose 18 metres tomb stands behind the high altar, supported by the four Virtues. Finished at the beginning of XV century, this church was heavily damaged during World War II and restorations took place along the XX century. It has a precious XV century majolica floor and hosts frescoes made in 1400 by Perrinetto from Benevento and Leonardo from Besozzo. The chapel Caracciolo di Vico has richly decorated marble floor and a wide lacunar dome.

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Last but not least, the church of San Filippo Neri, the inventor of the devotion of seven churches, called also “dei Girolamini”, set on via Tribunali. It is part of a complex hosting an important picture-gallery dating to the end of 1500. The project bears the signature of Giovanni Antonio Dosio, a Florentine just like the architect Ferdinando Fuga, who started the works in 1592.

Inside the church there are paintings by Pietro from Cortona and Guido Reni, sculptures by Bernini and a fresco made by Luca Giordano. It is also called “Domus Aurea” for its sparkling Baroque golden decoration. It hosts the tomb of philosopher Giambattista Vico, who worked into the famous library of the Oratorio, which counts more than 60.000 books.

L'articolo Naples and its churches in the holy walk of Easter proviene da Charme.