ChurcesAlong the main street of the Rione Maiano in central Sant’Agnello stands the Church of San Giuseppe, one of the area’s most significant religious landmarks. Its welcoming atmosphere invites both worshippers and passersby to pause and reflect.
Church of San Giuseppe:
history, art, and community life
Built in the second half of the 19th century by the devotion of local families, the church was expanded and renovated in the 1930s. Its neoclassical façade has a stone portal and a niche housing a statue of Saint Joseph, flanked by statues of Saint Peter and Paul.
Gli interni: arte e devozione
Inside, a single nave features baroque stucco decoration, small side altars, and a main altar topped by a painting depicting Saint Joseph with the Child Jesus. The walls are adorned with biblical scenes by Agostino Pegrassi, while a handsome statue of Saint Joseph by Pedace (1896) is a note of artistic importance.
The church has undergone several restorations yet remains a vital spiritual and social hub for the Rione Maiano. Nearby, a grotto houses a marble statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, adding to the locale’s devotional heritage.
Festa di San Giuseppe e significato sociale
The church has always represented a religious and social point of reference for the entire district. The square in front, once dedicated to San Giuseppe, was named after Pope John XXIII in 1963 and is now embellished with flowerbeds and decorations.
On the left side of the church there is a stone cave which houses a marble statue of the Madonna of Lourdes, an object of popular veneration.
Every year, in the month of March, the feast of San Giuseppe is celebrated, one of the most heartfelt events for the Santanella community. Between processions, liturgical celebrations and moments of conviviality, the neighborhood comes alive in an atmosphere of faith and tradition that unites generations.
