At the centre of what was once the agora of the ancient Neapolis, today Piazza San Gaetano, there is a large obelisk statue depicting a saint in a position of ecstasy and with his arms wide open towards the faithful.He is Gaetano, the Saint of Providence, is much loved by the Neapolitans because he dedicated his life, unsparingly and without reserve, to the poor, the sick and the defenceless. His body is in the monumental crypt, with direct access to the square, of the Basilica of S. Paolo Maggiore. The monument is a votive offering for his escape from danger after the terrible plague that struck the city of Naples in 1656. The project, commissioned by the Theatine Fathers, has a troubled history. On the base there are two inscriptions that tell its story.
Initially designed by Fanzago in the second half of the 17th century, it was modified during the following century until it reached its present configuration. The base and the cherubs remain from the initial project.
The Statue, which is located between the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore and the church of San Lorenzo Maggiore, faces Via San Gregorio Armeno, the street of the master crib makers of Naples.
According to tradition, Saint Gaetano Thiene, three hundred years after Saint Francis of Assisi, gave birth to the modern Neapolitan nativity scene. The wooden figures that populated it were inspired by real people seen around the city.
