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| A painting of San Baccolo by Carlo Amalfi, in the crypt of the Basilica of Sant'Antonino |
Sorrento is today celebrating the feast day of one of their
patron saints, San Baccolo.
The saint, who is venerated as a former Bishop of Sorrento,
died on August 27, which became his feast day in the Catholic calendar.
His remains were initially buried in one of the city’s
ancient walls, but they were later moved to the Church of Santi Felice e
Baccolo in Sorrento, now known as the Church of the Rosario.
A book written about the life of Sant’Antonino, the most
important patron saint of Sorrento, refers to other saints of Sorrento, such as
the bishops Renatus, Athanasius and Baculus, known in Italian as Baccolo.
The saints are described from their appearance in a painting
by Luca Giordano showing them surrounding the cross while Christ was being
crucified. This painting is now in Palazzo Reale in Naples.
It is thought Baccolo was Bishop of Sorrento at some time
during the seventh century.
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| The Church of San Rosario in Via Tasso |
The Church of Santi Felice e Baccolo, known also as the
Church of the Rosario, is in the historic centre of Sorrento.
Between the 12th and the 15th centuries the church was the
Cathedral of Sorrento.
It had been built by a Duke of Sorrento to make evil
spirits, who seemed to be plaguing the area, disappear.
Its origins probably date back to the time of Constantine
the Great in the fourth century when a building was constructed over the
remains of a pagan temple.
The present day church of San Rosario in Via Tasso is
considered one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Sorrento.
The Church has one nave and on the high altar is a statue of
the Madonna of the Rosary. The Church also has a statue of San Baccolo and
beneath the altar there is an urn containing his relics.
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