Church of San Eligio

On the south-western corner of the Market Square (Piazzo Mercato) there is a church that originally belonged to the French diaspora of Naples. In 1270, three French merchants applied to Charles I of Anjou for permission to build a complex that included a church, a hospital and a cemetery. The King allocated a place in the Campo del Moricino, near the city wall facing the sea. The place was not chosen by chance: it was here that on October 29, 1268, by order of Charles I, Conradin of Swabia (Corradino di Svevia) was beheaded, who tried to seize the Sicilian throne, but was defeated by Charles' troops and taken prisoner. After the execution, the bodies of Conradin and his closest associates were thrown on the seashore, which caused the Pope's displeasure with excessive cruelty. The construction of the church was to partially atone for this shameful act. The French Gothic church was consecrated in the name of the French saints Eligio, Dionysius and Martin (Eligio, Dionigi e Martino), after 1279 the name was shortened and the church is named only San Eligio (Chiesa di Sant'eligio Maggiore).

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