EXPERIENCE

San Costanzo

The Church of San Costanzo is one of the oldest religious buildings on the island of Capri and stands in the seaside village of Marina Grande. It is dedicated to the worship of the island’s patron saint and to the Madonna della Libera. Originally dedicated to Saint Severinus, the church took the name of San Costanzo after his death in the 7th century, when the saint’s cult began to spread among the inhabitants of Capri.

In 987, the church became the Bishop’s seat of Capri and, over the centuries, underwent several extensions and modifications, including the elevation of the rectory in 1928. The entrance portal, dating back to the 14th century, is surmounted by the coat of arms of the Angevin dynasty. The building was erected in the 5th century on the remains of an earlier Roman structure from the Late Republican period; during the restoration works in 1990, the Roman floor and brick wall were brought back to light and restored. Its architecture reflects elements of the Byzantine tradition, with a Greek cross plan and characteristic domed vaults.

During the 14th century, by the will of Count Giacomo Arcucci, the portico and the presbytery were added, completing the architectural appearance of the church. Since then, San Costanzo has remained an important religious landmark for the community of Capri, deeply connected to the island’s history and traditions.