Visit to Napoli or Naples, South Italy, June 21, 2007

Again, after breakfast of June 21, we took the bus from Materdomini and travelled, this time to Napoli or Naples.

This highway leads to Naples and signs along the road indicate that we were approaching the city.

The modern part of the city with the skyscrapers rising up with new ones being constructed.

This is the old section of the city which were were going to explore, led by the Capo,

Felix Catala here showing with a hat.
We pass by rows of old buildings that are now apartments for the residents who freely hang their laundry from their verandas or windows.

We passed by a church, one of the hundreds in the city.

We stop to wait for the green light to cross the street. Felix talks to Jos.

More laundry including briefs and bras.

Mobile stores dot the streets of the old Naples with vendors claiming the streets for business purposes.

This is the church of Sta. Maria della Virgini where St. Alphonsus was baptized on September 29, 1696.

Inside the church today, there are markers informing the visitor that this baptistry was where the baptism took place. St. Alphonsus was born in Marianella, just outside the downtown area of Naples on September 27, 1698. His parents were Don Joseph Felix de Ligouri and Dona Anna Catherine Cavalieri.

The main altar of the church.

At the entrance of the Hospital for the Incurables which still operates as a General Hospital until today.

These stones are at the entrance of the hospital which was then called Sta. Maria del Popolo. St. Alphonsus began his ministry here around the time of his ordination in 1726. There have been many religious who in their own time served this hospital, and also declared saints like Alphonsus. The current hospital administrators are very proud of this fact, they even produced a video about this

Inside the compound of the hospital, one sees the building that used to be the pharmacy. Now it is closed and needs to be repaired.

The main building leading to the rooms of the hospital. This was how it looked even during the time of St. Alphonsus.

We gathered outside the gate before we were allowed to enter the compound.

The sign board outside the compound.

The coat of arms of the hospital.

We were allowed to see the inside of the old pharmacy. A ceiling painting had caved in.

There are many paintings that are stored inside this pharmacy.

Near the pharmacy is a stairway that goes to a second floor of an adjacent building. This was where convicted prisoners entered before they were executed. St. Alphonsus was a member of an association that journeyed with them to their deaths.

These are the stone stairways that one climbs to go up the rooms of the hospital. The feet of St. Alphonsus would have walked up and down these stairs for countless times.

The pharmacy as seen from the main building.

The lobby of the building where the hospital rooms are.

A statue of Mary at the lobby.

A garden in the middle of the hospital which used to be where the herbal gardens were cultivated.

Frescoes painted on the ceiling of the hospital.

This sign says that all women - no matter what class, background and circumstances - were all welcomed to this hospital.

A frescoe on one of the walls showing how women were cared for in the hospital.

The facade of the cathedral of Naples. We got there at the time when the church was closed for siesta time. Since it would re-open only after we left for Materdomini, we were not able to see the inside of the Church. It was in this church that St. Alphonsus was ordained a priest on December 21, 1726.

One of the main roads of Naples where the cathedral stands.

This is the building across the cathedral. During the time of St. Alphonsus it served as a place for catechisms classes.

This is the beginning of a road leading towards the Tribunal where St. Alphonsus worked as a lawyer.

Today, this road is rather busy with a lot of stores and shops.

Along this road, the young Alphonsus would have walked back and forth as he did his duties as a lawyer.

The obelisk celebrating the Bishop known for the miracle of the blood that can liquidify.

The facade of the building which until today serves as the Tribunal where the lawyer Alphonsus worked. Restoration work is ongoing, thus the green material covering the facade. We were not allowed to enter this building.