Sant'Agnello
Welcome to Sant'Agnello: a gem of the Sorrento Coast
Hello everyone and welcome to Sant'Agnello, a municipality on the Sorrento coast that will make you fall in love. With its just over 8,500 inhabitants, this small town in the metropolitan city of Naples in Campania, Italy, will offer you moments of relaxation and contact with nature.
Discovering the geography of Sant'Agnello
Sant'Agnello is located about 46 km from Naples and extends for 4.09 km between the high and rugged coastline overlooking the Gulf of Naples to the north and the hills sloping towards the Tyrrhenian Sea. A characteristic of this municipality - but also of other municipalities on the Sorrento Peninsula - is its location on Tufo, a volcanic rock that dominates the sea from a height of 47 meters.
The history of Sant'Agnello
Sant'Agnello became an autonomous municipality in 1866, following requests for independence from the Casale di Trasaella, Mortora, Angri and Maiano. These had already obtained separation from Piano di Sorrento in 1808 and had long been asking to be independent from Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy. With the decree of December 10, 1865, the birth of the new municipality divided the territory into five districts: Angri district, Cappuccini district, Colli di Fontanelle district, Maiano district and Tordara-Trasaella district.
During the fascist period (1927-1946), Sant'Agnello joined the neighboring municipalities of Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento and Meta, thus forming the "Great Sorrento." However, after the fall of the regime, the municipality returned to independence.
Symbols of Sant'Agnello
The coat of arms of the municipality of Sant'Agnello depicts the five towers (one per district) that made up the territory of the municipality when it became autonomous in 1866. The motto "Post nubila Phœbus" is instead used to recall the desire for independence manifested by the citizens of Sant'Agnello in pre-unification times.
Festivities in Sant'Agnello
On December 14, Sant'Agnello celebrates the feast of the patron, Agnello di Napoli. It's the perfect occasion to admire the beauty of the municipality and immerse yourself in local culture and traditions.
Monuments and points of interest
Among the religious architectures of Sant'Agnello, the church of Saints Prisco and Agnello is certainly the most important. Located on a large square, the church is dedicated to the patron saint and features a statue immersed in greenery. Although the year of foundation is unknown, the building - although little more than a chapel - certainly existed in the 15th century and was dedicated to Prisco di Nocera, bishop of Nocera. The church - consecrated for the first time in 1827 - is in Baroque style, has a Latin cross plan and features three arches surmounted by three domes.
The convent and the church of the Capuchin Friars are also points of interest in Sant'Agnello. Located on the panorama of the Gulf of Naples, these two buildings have a particular history: at the time of construction (in 1586), the Casale dei Frati had not yet been born and was listed under the name of the Saints John and Paul. In 1867, with the Eversion of the ecclesiastical axis, the convent was vacated, passing into the hands of the Municipality, which used it as a hospital and hospice for the needy; the church, however, remained open and was cared for by just three friars.
Conclusion
Here, friends, is an overview of Sant'Agnello, a municipality that deserves to be visited and discovered. Its beauty, traditions, and history that distinguish it will make you feel part of this welcoming and generous community. Come and discover this gem of the Sorrento Coast!
