Complesso monumentale Purgatorio ad Arco

About the museum

The church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco was commissioned in 1616 by the lay confraternity of the Opera Pia Purgatorio ad Arco from the architect Giovan Cola di Franco, and consecrated in 1638. The building was conceived on two levels: the upper church, which refers to the earthly dimension, and the hypogeum, a burial area that gives concrete form to Purgatory. The church is known to Neapolitans as the one “de’ ’e cape ’e morte” (of the death’s heads).

In the hypogeum, among niches and small altars, the cult of the anime pezzentelle (the “poor souls”) survives; it arose spontaneously at the beginning of the 17th century. The faithful adopt and look after anonymous skulls, regarded as intermediaries for prayers and requests. The upper church holds marbles and the Winged Skull by Dionisio Lazzari, together with works by Massimo Stanzione, Luca Giordano and Andrea Vaccaro.

The Museo dell’Opera occupies the sacristy and the oratory of the Immacolata and holds paintings and objects from the 17th to the 19th century: around thirty Neapolitan silver pieces, vestments for funeral processions, manuscripts and evidence of popular devotion, as well as walnut cabinets of 1827 and a 17th-century copy of the Madonna della Purità by Luis de Morales. The museum services are run by the Associazione Progetto Museo.

Highlights

• Hypogeum with the cult of the anime pezzentelle
• Winged Skull by Dionisio Lazzari
• Paintings by Massimo Stanzione, Luca Giordano and Andrea Vaccaro
• Neapolitan silverware from the 17th to the 19th century in the Museo dell’Opera
• Vestments for funeral processions
• Sacristy with walnut cabinets of 1827

Permanent exhibition

• Museo dell'Opera nella sagrestia e nell'oratorio dell'Immacolata – Neapolitan silverware, vestments, manuscripts and paintings from the 17th to the 19th century, linked to the history of the Opera Pia and to popular devotion.

Operated by

Opera Pia Purgatorio ad Arco (servizi museali: Associazione Progetto Museo)

Admission & discounts

Prices in force from 1 October 2026. Admission to the upper church is free; the fee covers the museum route with the upper church, sacristy and hypogeum. Reductions cannot be combined and require a document.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

For schools there are educational visits and workshops, such as “Anime in gioco” (a play-visit with a workshop, for primary school and the first year of lower secondary school) and “Alberello pezzentello” (for nursery and early primary pupils).

Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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