Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena ai Cristallini
The Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena ai Cristallini is called Chiesa Blu for its immersive setting: the shades of blue, the faces of the neighborhood along the nave, and the works of Tono Cruz, Mono González and Giuliana Conte, created with the involvement of the community, make it a deeply identity-rich place.
The church is the outcome of a path that brought together urban regeneration, training and youth participation. Not only it represents a heritage returned to the neighborhood, but also a tangible symbol of shared beauty and social transformation.
Blue
Welcome
Community
An intimate space where art, memory, and community come together in a warm and engaging way.
Altar
A migrants' boat prow turned into a sign of welcome
The altar was created in collaboration with the Casa dello Spirito e delle Arti Foundation and was made by the inmates of the carpentry and lutherie workshop of the Secondigliano prison, using the prow of a migrants’ boat.
This work brings a powerful reminder of welcome, dignity and the transformation of pain into new possibility.
Murals
Mono González and Tono Cruz bring the neighbourhood’s history to life
The interior murals were created by street artists Tono Cruz and Mono González, with the involvement of local young people. The choice of the colour blue stems from a desire to convey serenity and calm, and draws on Arab culture, where it is used to decorate mosques as it is believed to have antiseptic properties and to protect against evil.
The two columns at the entrance are decorated with thorns, volcanoes and bones, which transform into trees, a symbol of rebirth: a work that symbolises the often non-linear life journeys faced by the people of the neighbourhood.
The altar features a hand in a blessing gesture that speaks of inclusivity; other motifs in the murals include nails, hammers and tools representing the workers and the people of the neighbourhood.
Faces of the community
The residents of the neighbourhood lining the aisle, a sign of belonging
Along the nave, there are portraits of the neighbourhood’s residents, incorporated into the exhibition as a symbol of belonging and shared memory. The faces tell the story of how, over time, the residents have learnt to transform their fears and vulnerabilities into courage, for themselves and for their children.
The installation was created by Giuliana Conte, who has helped to make the church a deeply human and recognisable space, where residents can always feel welcomed and represented.
Chiesa dei Cristallini can be visited every day from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. During exhibitions or special initiatives, the schedule may be extended with dedicated openings.
The place can be experienced on its own or as part of cultural routes linking several spaces in the Rione Sanità. Accompanied visits help visitors read the relationship between architecture, community and new artistic practices.
The Chiesa Blu is not fully accessible to visitors with disabilities due to the entrance steps.
If you have specific requirements or are booking a group visit, please contact us before your visit. Our team will assess the most suitable option based on the schedule and the type of experience taking place.
Our sites are woven together in itineraries connecting art, memory and neighborhood transformation.
Lux in Fundo
An itinerary of light in the Rione Sanità
From Sant'Aspreno to Piazza Sanità: a journey through rebirth
An itinerary linking five symbolic places in the transformation of the neighborhood, showing how abandoned churches and forgotten spaces have returned to life. Together with the young people of the neighborhood, you will discover the dialogue between contemporary art and historic architecture while witnessing the impact of beauty on the community.
Itinerary
Church of Sant'Aspreno ai Crociferi
The starting point of the itinerary: a 17th-century church reopened after forty years, now home to works by the sculptor Jago.
AperiSorte
A different way to experience the Rione
Evening tour among Jago's works and the murals of the Blue Church in the Rione Sanità
A unique evening experience for anyone who wants to discover one of Naples’ most authentic neighborhoods through an exclusive guided route.
The walk winds through the alleys of the Rione Sanità and opens the doors to two extraordinary places that remained closed for decades: the Blue Church and the Jago Museum. Two remarkable sites that tell stories of courage and rebirth, returned to the community thanks to the commitment of local young people.
Two stops followed by an excellent aperitivo offered in collaboration with “Sciò – Drink and Food”, a bar located at the entrance to Borgo dei Vergini.
Itinerary
Blue Church of the Cristallini
Church of Santa Maria Maddalena ai Cristallini
A place that symbolizes belonging, inclusion and welcome, with works by Tono Cruz, Mono González and Giuliana Conte.
Discover the other sites managed by our cooperative that form part of the cultural ecosystem of the Rione Sanità.
Jago Museum
Chiesa di Sant'Aspreno ai Crociferi
Closed for forty years, it now houses the works of the renowned sculptor Jago, creating a unique dialogue between the ancient and the contemporary.
Figlio Velato
Basilica di San Severo fuori le mura
A sixteenth-century basilica reopened to the city: inside the Cappella dei Bianchi, Jago's Figlio Velato speaks with the sacred and with the present.
