Location: Pastena
The Church of San Pietro e Paolo, with a single nave and apse, has a rich history of transformations and renovations, and preserves a valuable artistic and historical heritage.
Founded in 1613 and originally dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, in the fifteenth century it assumed the title of Saint Paul the Apostle. Significant elements such as the high altar, floor and sacristy date back to the 18th century. In fact, in 1747, both the church and the sacristy were enlarged.
An important marble plaque shows the date of consecration of the building. It took place on 27 September 1847 by the hand of the Archbishop of Sorrento, Mons. Saverio Apuzzo. Another plaque, located on the external facade, commemorates the visit to Pastena of the First Queen of Italy. In fact, the square in front of the church is dedicated to Margherita di Savoia.
The High Altar, built in 1710 in polychrome marble, is surmounted by a canvas depicting the Princes of the Apostles.
To the left of the entrance, the altar from 1847, built where the baptismal font used to stand, stands out for its historical significance. Of particular value is the painting of San Francesco di Paola, belonging to the school of Guido Reni. Next to it is a wooden statue of the Sorrowful Lady. A second altar, dating back to the foundation of the church, is dedicated to Saint Mary of Constantinople. This altar houses an ancient painting of the Madonna with Saints Domenico and Agnello, bearing the coat of arms of Gennaro Vicedomini, the founder of the church.
The third altar, originally dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, is now consecrated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Once, on this altar there was a canvas of the Madonna del Carmine with Saints Sebastiano and Antonio da Padova. It was later moved to the apse, where you can see the heraldic coat of arms of the Cacace, the founders of the altar, dated before 1657.
On the right side of the church, the first altar from 1847 was replaced in 1862 with a marble one made by Gualdieri. Above it is now a statue of the Madonna that has taken the place of a canvas of the Virgin of the Carmine, now preserved in the sacristy. The second altar, originally dedicated to Saint Anthony, is now dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. A 1685 painting depicting the Virgin of Grace with San Rocco and Sant’Antonio, which included the coat of arms of the family Scoppa di Sant’Agata, was removed and replaced by a statue of the Madonna delle Grazie, from the Church of the Desert after the suppression of the Convent in 1810.
Finally, the last altar, which was originally dedicated to the Holy Crucifix with a wooden statue of 1685, was later consecrated to the Immaculate in the eighteenth century. A painting depicting the Immaculate with San Nicola da Tolentino and the Blessed Scota, with the coat of arms of the family, embellishes the altar.
