Casa D'Anna: A treasure immersed in the folklore of Rione Sanità

Casa D'Anna: A treasure immersed in the folklore of Rione Sanità

With its refined objects, books, and coral walls, Casa D'Anna is a cosy apartment in Naples that embodies the folklore, the city's cultural heritage, and its symbolic and historical prosperity.

by Valentina Raschielli

The story in a nutshell

The house is located in the heart of Rione Sanità, precisely on Via dei Cristallini, and inside Palazzo Giannattasio, a baroque mansion from the early 1500’s.

Originally owned by David D'Anna and Ken McTaggart, the place has been transformed into a wonderful, comfortable home by Pierre Vercoustre. It is today run with great passion by Alessandra Calise Martuscelli, who reflects the enormous heritage and culture of Naples.

The house

In the second floor, through a style door, one enters the living room, characterised by the chequered marble floor which contrasts with the solid colour palette of the walls, all decorated with paintings.

A pair of black velvet sofas of exceptional elegance, surround a middle table in the second part, featuring inspiring coffee-table books. Lamps, vases, objects and chandeliers are elements that add uniqueness to this space. A wide selection of books are available here to help plan the next day's itinerary or discover Naples' history. 

There are four bedrooms in the house, each with design items and small details, tailored to match the aesthetics of the place. With meticulous attention to detail and sophisticated décor, this boutique hotel is enhanced in every aspect, including bathroom kits and furniture of the highest quality.         

The upper floor features a large outdoor garden with colourful Mediterranean plants, where one can enjoy a glass of wine or enjoy the Italian philosophy of dolce far niente, “the sweetness of doing nothing”

More to discover in the neighbourhood: Naples' La Sanità

As one of the most populous districts of Naples, La Sanità is home to outdoor markets, small grocery stores, bakeries, bars, and pizzerias. Not surprisingly, the area is genuine and chaotic and no-holds-barred.

In the sixteenth century, the village was founded outside the city walls in a valley the Greeks and Romans used as a burial ground, and was destined to become a necropolis, acquiring a unique style that makes it so different from all other areas of Naples. 

Currently, La Sanità is one of the most popular areas of the city. Iit was originally built to house noble families and the wealthiest middle class, as evidenced by the elegant Palazzo dello Spagnolo and Palazzo San Felice, built during the second and third decades of 1700 respectively.

A visit to Casa D'Anna offers an authentic and realistic experience of Rione Sanità while also allowing you to discover hidden places, like the Hypogeum of Cristallini, a rare example of Hellenic paintings and architecture located just a few steps from it.

The history of hypogeum dates back more than 2,300 years. The area was destined to be a necropolis by the Greeks, who at that time lived in the city of Neapolis when it was still part of Magna Graecia. Among these tombs stand the four “dei Cristallini”, so called because they are located in the underground of Via dei Cristallini and are precisely under the ancient palace of the Baron of Donato.

Indeed in 1889 the Baron of Donato, looking for water in the subsoil of his family palace, found instead a treasure of Hellenic painting and architecture. A rare testimony of the Hellenic period, a splendour incredibly brought to light.

Today, you can access the Hypogeum from the number 133 in Via dei Cristallini.

Time to eat

Find a quick break at Concettina ai Tre Santi where one can taste typical Neapolitan flavours, combined with the research and use of superior ingredients for quality and refinement.

We do recommend Pizza Margherita con pomodori San Marzano e frittatina alla Genovese.

The first mention of Pizza Margherita dates back to the end of 1700. The chef Raffaele Esposito, to honour the Queen of Italy Margherita di Savoia, had prepared a pizza topped with tomato, basil and mozzarella, representing the colours of the Italian flag. 

The last decade has seen some pizza innovation breaking strict traditions and mixing with original ingredients.

The research and experimentation of the Oliva family is just such an example. They are the owners of Concettina ai Tre Santi, and do not want to be just an ordinary range of gourmet pizzas because they are made with the use of superior ingredients in terms of quality and refinement.

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