Royal Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius, Naples
The Royal Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius (Reale cappella del Tesoro di San Gennaro) keeps the relics of Naples' current patron saint. It is located in the Cathedral of Naples.
About this building
The remains of San Gennaro were originally buried in the Catacombs of San Gennaro, outside the city walls. In the 9th century, his remains were moved to Beneventum, a city 50km from Naples, with only his head remaining in Naples. In the 12th century the relics were moved again. In 1497, his body and head were finally buried under the Cathedral.
The blood of the saint has been preserved since the 17th century in a silver reliquary between two round glass plates approximately 12 cm wide.
The saint is famous for the liquefaction of his blood, which happens three times a year: on 9 September (Saint Januarius's Day), on 16 December (celebrating his patronage of Naples and its archdiocese), and on the first Saturday of May.
