Capuchin Church in Sant'Agnello, the wedding church by the sea

In the Rione Cappuccini of Sant'Agnello, a few steps from the panoramic Marinella terrace, the Capuchin Church stands on the edge of the tuff cliff that drops to the Gulf of Naples. Small, simple and looking out to sea, it is the most requested church for weddings in Sant'Agnello: couples choose it for its intimate atmosphere and the view of Vesuvius that greets them as they leave the ceremony.

History of the church and convent

The church was founded in 1586 together with the Capuchin friars' convent and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Like all the order's churches it has plain lines and little decoration; in 1844 the façade was rebuilt to a design by Don Giuseppe Gargiulo of Trasaella, to bring it level with the little square in front, now laid out with flower beds and statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and Padre Pio.

What to see inside

The intimate interior holds a wooden altar by Fra Bernardino di Massa and, on the high altar, the painting of the Madonna between Saint John and Saint Francis by Eduardo Scarpati of Meta di Sorrento, placed there in 1844 to replace an altarpiece of Saints John and Paul.

The belvedere over the Gulf of Naples

In front of the church is one of the loveliest viewpoints on the Sorrento Peninsula, with the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius straight ahead. The convent next door is now a guesthouse run by religious, for those looking for a quiet stay.

Getting married at the Capuchin Church

Its charm as a church by the sea makes it the first choice of many couples, including from abroad, for a church wedding in Sant'Agnello. For that very reason the best dates, from May to October, should be booked well in advance by arrangement with the friars. Receptions can be held in the villas and hotels nearby: all venues and suppliers are in the weddings in Sorrento and on the peninsula section, from Villa Don Camillo to the tarantella of Sorrento Folk.

How to get there

The church is reached on foot from the centre of Sant'Agnello along a tree lined avenue towards the Marinella. In the same area, on Via Nuovo Rione Cappuccini, is Villa Crawford, the home of the writer Francis Marion Crawford.