# Church and Monastery of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata **At a glance:** The church of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata, with its adjoining Passionist monastery, stands on Via Salvatore Girardi in the Perrone area. The monastery was founded in 1931 to house clergy who came to Casamicciola for the thermal cure; the church, white and bright at the top of a long flight of steps, was blessed in 1953. ## Useful information - **Type:** Churches, faith and traditions - **Address:** Via Salvatore Girardi 13, 80074 Casamicciola Terme NA - **Period:** 1931 (monastery); 1948–1953 (church) - **Coordinates:** 40.748868, 13.914790 - **Where:** Via Salvatore Girardi 13, Perrone area - **Area:** Perrone, along the coast road towards Ischia - **Monastery:** Home to the Passionist Fathers since 21 June 1931 - **Church:** Built from 1948, blessed in February 1953 - **Feast day:** San Gabriele dell'Addolorata, 27 February - **Status:** Under restoration: restoration agreement signed on 29 October 2026 ## A monastery founded for the thermal cure The Passionist Fathers' presence in Casamicciola has its roots in preaching: for years the spiritual sons of St Paul of the Cross held missions in the island's churches, and the commemorative crosses still visible around the area bear witness to them. The idea of a permanent house, however, arose from a very practical need, linked to the town's vocation: to offer suitable, independent lodgings to clergy who came to Ischia to take the thermal waters. After an initial plan in the Perrone district, on land offered by Cavaliere Erasmo Lombardi, came to nothing, the Fathers bought a plot on Via Girardi. The monastery was built in about a year under the direction of the engineer Antonio Riccio, and on 21 June 1931 the small community officially took possession. It was dedicated to San Gabriele dell'Addolorata (St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows), a young Passionist saint already venerated in Casamicciola thanks to the missions. ## The church of San Gabriele After the Second World War the monastery chapel was no longer large enough for the pastoral needs of an area whose population had grown. At the urging of Father Gabriele, superior from 1946, and thanks to land once again donated by the Lombardi family, work on a larger church began on 28 February 1948, directed by Professor Giuseppe Esposito, an engineer from Naples. Construction was suspended for lack of funds, resumed in 1951 and was completed in 1952. The church was solemnly blessed in February 1953, to coincide with the feast of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata (27 February); the bell tower was finished in March of the same year and the three bells arrived in 1954. ### Architecture and works of art The building, classical in style, is white and bright, articulated by columns, capitals, friezes and stucco work, and is reached by climbing a long flight of steps. The high altar, balustrade and throne in marble, made by a firm from Massa Carrara, house the statue of St Gabriel. The side chapels are dedicated to St Paul of the Cross, Our Lady of Pompeii, St Gemma Galgani and Blessed Grimoaldo of the Purification; a terracotta statue of the Immaculate Virgin crowns the spire of the bell tower. The old chapel on the lower floor is now used as a reception hall. ## Traditions and moments of faith According to local tradition, devotion to St Gabriel is linked to a healing that took place in the Lombardi family; from Casamicciola the cult also took root in the confraternity of the [church of Santa Maria della Pietà](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-santa-maria-della-pieta/), whose spiritual care is entrusted to the Passionists. Two events have remained in the community's memory: the arrival on the island of the remains of St Paul of the Cross on 14 June 1969, and that of the relics of St Gabriel, brought to Casamicciola on 13 February 2002. The feast of the patron saint is celebrated on 27 February. ## Restoration The church is undergoing restoration: on 29 October 2026 the Passionist Fathers signed the agreement for the work still to be carried out on the roof and the rest of the church. Before visiting, it is therefore advisable to check with the monastery which areas are accessible. ## Where it is and how to get there The monastery is at Via Salvatore Girardi 13, the coast road linking the port of Casamicciola with Ischia, in the Perrone area. From the harbour and Piazza Marina you can walk there along Via Girardi or take one of the buses that run along the coast road. ### What to see nearby A short distance away are the [church of Sant'Antonio da Padova al Mortito](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-sant-antonio-da-padova/), with the large statue of the saint overlooking the Perrone plain, and [Monastery Beach](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/sea-and-beaches/monastery-beach-spiaggia-del-convento/). To place the monastery in the town's religious history, a good starting point is the [History of Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/) page. ## Frequently asked questions ### Why is there a Passionist monastery in Casamicciola? The monastery was founded in 1931 to provide lodgings for clergy who came to Casamicciola for the thermal cure. The Passionists were already known on the island for the missions they had preached in its parishes. ### When was the church of San Gabriele built? Work began on 28 February 1948 and, after a pause, was completed in 1952. The church was blessed in February 1953, around the feast of St Gabriel. ### Is the church open during the restoration? The church is undergoing restoration: in October 2026 an agreement was signed to complete the work on the roof and the rest of the building. Check accessibility with the monastery before visiting. ### When is the feast of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata? The saint's feast is celebrated on 27 February. It is also the anniversary linked to the blessing of the church in 1953. ## Also worth seeing - [Church of Santa Maria della Pietà](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-santa-maria-della-pieta/) - [Church of Sant'Antonio da Padova](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-sant-antonio-da-padova/) - [Monastery Beach](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/sea-and-beaches/monastery-beach-spiaggia-del-convento/) - [History of Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/) ## Sources and further reading - [Padri Passionisti – Casamicciola, convento San Gabriele](https://www.passionisti.org/index.php?Itemid=139&id=18&option=com_content&view=article) - [Ischia.org – Chiesa e Convento dei Padri Passionisti](https://ischia.org/chiesa/convento-padri-passionisti) - [Commissario straordinario per la ricostruzione di Ischia – Convenzione per il recupero della chiesa di San Gabriele (29/10/2026)](https://sismaischia.it/2026/10/29/firmata-oggi-la-convenzione-tra-struttura-commissariale-e-padri-passionisti-per-lattuazione-della-componente-b-dellintervento-di-recupero-della-chiesa-di-san-gabriele-delladdolorata-a-casamiccio/)