Church Santa Maria Donna Regina Nuova, Naples

The Church Santa Maria Donna Regina Nuova is attached to a convent of nuns belonging to the Franciscan order. The adjective Nuova or new is used to distinguish it from an earlier church of the same name that is located next to the building.

The Church Santa Maria Donna Regina Nuova was designed by the architect, Giovanni Giacomo di Conforto, built between 1616 and 1627 and consecrated in 1669. It is the finest example of Neapolitan Baroque architectural design. The church and the nearby 14th century building were connected by a passage that extended between the apse of the old church and the tribune of the new one. The passage was demolished when the structures were restored between 1928 and 1934.

The Church Santa Maria Donna Regina Nuova has a simple exterior and an ornate interior. The façade has a simple austere neoclassical design. The wide staircase leading to the entrance is flanked on either side by the statues of Saint Bartholomew and Saint Andrew. The interior consists of a single nave with three chapels on either side. The nave is completely covered with marble with a floral design. The splendid ceiling fresco was painted by Francesco de Benedictis and the apse is surrounded by frescoes portraying the life of Saint Francis by Francesco Solimena. The cupola of the church has a magnificent fresco by Agostino Beltrano.