Chiesa di Santa Teresa a Chiaia

Chiesa di Santa Teresa a Chiaia is a Baroque church on Via Vittoria Colonna in Naples’s Chiaia district. A double flight of stairs leads to its raised entrance and a small terrace with a view over Via dei Mille. Inside, look for stucco decoration, coloured marble and paintings by Luca Giordano and De Matteis, as well as a wooden crucifix by Andrea Vaccaro. The partly ruined dome brings light into the interior. Check access before setting out, as the church may be closed.

The raised facade and staircase

The church stands on Via Vittoria Colonna, where Via dei Mille begins to climb and changes its name. Its elevated position sets the entrance above street level. A double flight of stairs leads up to a small terrace, with a view over Via dei Mille.

The facade is attributed to the 17th-century architect Cosimo Fanzago. It is arranged in two horizontal levels. On the lower level, look for paired statues, marble busts and a roundel with a marble figure of Saint Teresa of Ávila, supported by angels. The original approach to the church included a grand staircase, later lost during changes to the road layout.

Art and light inside

The interior combines stucco decoration with polychrome marble and works of sculpture and painting. Look for paintings by Luca Giordano and Pietro De Matteis, as well as the wooden crucifix attributed to Andrea Vaccaro. The church’s plan is described as a Greek cross, and the altar has a screen-like structure.

The dome is partly ruined. Its condition contrasts with the decorated interior, but it still helps give the space a bright quality. If the doors are open, take time to look up and compare the dome with the surrounding stucco and marble.