DESCRIPTION

The church of S.Gennaro, the only example of baroque architecture existing on the coast. Of the primitive church, much smaller and always dedicated to San Gennaro has been known since 1300 when he was under the patronage of two patrician families of Amalfi, the Corsario and the D'Alagno, who by deed of 18 August 1589 made a gift to Praiano. Demolished the old church was erected the current one, completed in 1602.

The dome was covered with majolica tiles, while the interior was enriched with stucco and a tiled terracotta floor with white background and refined geometric designs containing fruit flowers, leaves and birds (1771-1776). The bell tower, adjacent to the church, was begun at the end of 1700 and completed in 1816. Of the same period is also the sacristy of the church, with octagonal plan and lowered dome covered with tiles and tiles, known as the chapel of St. Gennaro.

Three bronze portals have replaced the original wooden ones. The square in front of the church, once small and in clay, was expanded thanks to the funding of emigrated to Argentina, the United States and France. In 1931 the facade was rebuilt, while in 1954, on drawing by Eng. Andrea Pane. The square was cemented and decorated with drawings made of tile collage broken majolica.

The path for the Church of Santa Maria a Castro with the Convent of San Domenico, has stairs uphill and downhill easy to walk; is located on the high ground of the valley called "Campo", from which you can admire the entire horizon up to Punta Campanella, with the stacks of Capri and the islands of Li Galli. The origins of the church are unknown due to the lack of official documentation.

Among the various hypotheses the most reliable one, refers to the origin of the word "Castro" or "Castra" that is "fortified location against incursions" The church dates back to 1430, when the left nave was built. In 1599 it was donated to the Dominican fathers. To honor this donation, the cenobio was built to house them and, inside the church, the altar to S. Domenico was erected (in the south aisle overlooking the sea, obtained from the closure of the pre-existing porch).

With the settlement of the Dominicans Fathers, were made remarkable and many internal and external changes to the complex, the two naves of the primitive church adjacent to the bell tower, were closed and used for the burial of the dead, as confirmed by the discovery of niches "scolatoi"and subsequently as a deposit. The suppression of the order by Joseph Bonaparte; it then passed to the administration of the church of San Gennaro. The church and the ceiling with cross and barrel vaults, denotes that it was built in different eras.

TECHNICAL DATA

• DIFFICULT: T (Turistica)
• Distance: 4 Km
• ALTITUDE DIFFERENCE: +350 m
• HIKING TIME: 3 HOURS excluding stops