Chiesa di San Francesco Saverio (Santa Rita)

The Church of San Francesco Saverio, commonly known in Avellino as Santa Rita, was founded in the eighteenth century near the cathedral. Its history includes a reconstruction in 1801 and a painting by Francesco de Mura's pupil Fischetti.

Why it matters

The church preserves a layer of Avellino's religious history and local devotion. Its formal dedication to Saint Francis Xavier and its popular association with Saint Rita reflect the different names by which the building is known.

What to notice

The documented artwork is Fischetti's 1767 painting Il Nome di Maria. The church's fabric reflects its eighteenth-century foundation and nineteenth-century rebuilding. Its location places it among the historic quarter's religious and civic landmarks.

Context and history

The church was founded in 1752, after land was acquired from Bartolomeo Farina, and dedicated to San Francesco Saverio. It was reconstructed in 1801. The Santa Rita devotion became part of its popular identity.