Naples, new cracks at Incurabili complex: hospital and an adjacent building evacuated

In the last days of March, the church of Santa Maria del Popolo degli Incurabili in Naples had suffered a ruinous subsidence that caused the floor behind the altar to collapse.Now the Incurabili complex is still showing new problems, so much so that it has become necessary to evacuate the hospital, founded in the 16th century. Indeed, cracks in the church have expanded to affect other areas of the monumental complex as well.

“Due to a sudden evolution of the cracking framework recorded at the Monumental Complex, which also affects operational areas of the clinical-healthcare activity,” reads a note from Asl Napoli1 Centro, “the extraordinary commissioner Ciro Verdoliva has convened an operational table at the facility and immediately alerted the provincial Fire Department Command so that the necessary reliefs can be provided.” As a precaution, therefore, the evacuation of several areas of the hospital, which have since been moved to other facilities, and an adjacent building has been ordered.

The problems also affect the historic pharmacy of the Incurabili, the best-preserved part of the ancient complex, with its current appearance dating back to the mid-18th century, and still housing several ancient objects (including precious ceramic drug vessels). The next step will be the evacuation of the artworks stored in the pharmacy (their destination will be decided at a meeting of the Superintendency scheduled for Tuesday 9).

Meanwhile, work on securing the building has already begun. It is not possible at the moment to know when the hospital will be reopened: the staff is meanwhile working to avoid or limit disruptions as much as possible. Regret remains in seeing the state in which an important historical and artistic heritage of the city is in.

Pictured: the Incurabili Complex, the facade of the historic pharmacy. Ph. Credit

Naples, new cracks at Incurabili complex: hospital and an adjacent building evacuated

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