RioniIn the heart of Sant’Agnello’s town center, Rione Angri represents one of the most authentic and historically rich places in the Sorrentine Peninsula. A neighborhood where time seems to stand still, with quiet alleys, ancient noble residences, historic churches, and centuries-old traditions.
Rione Angri: The Historic Center of Sant’Agnello
The name Rione Angri may derive either from an ancient rural settlement or from the noble family that once controlled the area. Today, the rione has preserved its charm and historical identity, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into local life.
What to See in Rione Angri
Walking through Rione Angri means exploring narrow streets, courtyard houses, artisan shops, and picturesque views that reflect everyday life from the past. The rione strikes a perfect balance between historical memory and modern vitality, still fully inhabited and lived in by the residents of Sant’Agnello.
Santissima Annunziata
The spiritual heart of the rione is the Church of the Santissima Annunziata, dating back to the 15th century. Inside, you’ll find a precious painting from 1582 by Silvestro Buono, depicting the Holy Spirit and the Virgin during the Resurrection.
Santi Prisco e Agnello
Another important religious site is the Church of Saints Priscus and Agnello, consecrated in 1827 and located in the town center. In front of the churchyard stands a sculpture of Saint Agnello, the town’s patron saint.
The Wooden Crucifix and the Sessa Candle Workshop
Near the Circumvesuviana railway bridge — the historic connection to Naples and Pompeii — stands a large wooden Crucifix carved by artist Salvatore Sessa. Also linked to the Sessa family is the candle workshop (Cereria), active since the late 1800s, where handmade beeswax candles are still produced today.
Holy Week and Local Festivities
Rione Angri is the beating heart of the town’s religious celebrations. During Holy Week, the neighborhood comes alive with ancient rituals, processions, traditional songs, and widespread community participation deeply rooted in centuries of devotion.
The Main Squares
The neighborhood was once a large ravine, created by a volcanic eruption between 37,000 and 35,000 years ago that shook the Mediterranean. The area is now centered around the historic Piazza Angri, recently restored, and Piazza Matteotti, once called Piazza Municipio, where the Town Hall building was constructed in 1911, designed by engineer Luigi Amalfi.
Monuments and Squares
Angri Square
recently restored, it is one of the most representative places in the neighborhood.
Matteotti Square
Formerly known as Piazza Municipio, this square is home to the 1911 Town Hall designed by Luigi Amalfi.
Monument to the Fallen
The Monument to the Fallen (1926), created by sculptor Giovanni Nicolini, dominates the square.
In addition to its history, traditions, and religious devotion, the rione also offers the opportunity to discover local gastronomy. Small restaurants, traditional eateries, and old-style bakeries serve Campanian specialties in an authentic and welcoming atmosphere.
Visiting Rione Angri means immersing yourself in the deep identity of Sant’Agnello. It’s an experience shaped by memory, tradition, and daily life — a place where every stone tells a story and every corner holds a fragment of the soul of the Sorrentine Peninsula.