Church of Saint Angel of the Nile

History

Rinaldo Brancaccio became Cardinal in 1384 and had this church built at the beginning of the 15th century, named after Saints Angel and Mark and located close to the family palace and a hospital for the poor. However, it became known in common usage after its location (the Seggio del Nilo, “Seat of the Nile”), an area of ancient Neapolis inhabited by Egyptian merchants, who had a special devotion to the God of Nile.

The small building was originally decorated in the late-gothic style favoured by its patron. In the 16th century the church was extended and absorbed the ancient Seat of the Nile which became the present-day presbytery area. More significant changes were made in the 18th century by architect and scenographer Arcangelo Guglielmelli in around the year 1709.

The nearby Palazzo Brancaccio can be reached by a cloister-courtyard. Thanks to family patronage the first public library in Naples was opened here using a bequest left in his will by Cardinal Francesco Brancaccio (1675). This remains the site of a section of the National Library in Naples.