The Sansevero Chapel is recognized as one of the main museums of the city. It is located near Piazza San Domenico Maggiore and is linked to the Sangro Palace, residence of the princes of Sansevero. A direct connection between the palace and the chapel was established through an alley with a bridge. The chapel houses outstanding works of art, such as the Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sanmartino, known for the transparent marble veil that envelops the figure of the dead Christ. There are also Antonio Corradini's Modesty and Francesco Queirolo's Disenchantment, creating a complex rich in symbolism. In addition to its initial function as a place of worship, the chapel was also conceived as a Masonic temple, reflecting the influence of Raimondo di Sangro, the VII prince of Sansevero, who commissioned and designed the works of art in the chapel.
Several myths have been woven around the chapel, such as the possibility that it was built over an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. Another legend tells the story of a man unjustly arrested who, passing by the Sansevero palace, entrusted himself to the Madonna, resulting in the revelation of a painting of the Pieta. This event gave its name to the church, dedicated to Santa Maria della Pietà. This man's devotion led to its liberation and to the tradition of keeping a silver lamp lit before the image.
The chapel has become a popular destination for pilgrimages and has been the object of various invocations. Recent studies suggest that its origin may be related to a crime committed in 1590, when the composer Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa stabbed his wife and her lover. Adriana, Gesualdo's mother, would have ordered the construction of the chapel as an expiatory temple dedicated to the Virgin for the eternal salvation of her son.
The structure of the chapel, representative of Neapolitan Baroque, probably dates back to 1593 and has a single nave with a presbytery at the end, where the main altar is located. The chapel contains works commissioned by Raimondo di Sangro, with the statues of the "Virtues" standing out as the main element of his iconographic project. These statues, together with the funerary monuments, reflect Raimondo's intention to honor his family and highlight their virtues and achievements. The Sansevero chapel is a remarkable ensemble of sculptural and pictorial works, with the fresco "Glory of Paradise" on the ceiling as one of the most outstanding pieces, the work of Francesco Maria Russo. The chapel also contains symbolic elements related to Freemasonry, given Raimondo di Sangro's affiliation as grand master.