The construction of this
church, which was originally connected to a hospital, was made possible by a
donation from Charles I of Anjou who put a large plot of land, near Piazza
Mercato, at the disposal of a Confraternity of Neapolitan and French laymen.
It is therefore said that this place of worship was the first to be built in the
city by the continue thanks to the financial contributions made by the King,
local craftsmen and merchants, and three noblemen.
The name Sant'Eligio, to whom the church was dedicated, was chosen at
random from the three patron saints of the brotherhood.
The original structure has been completely transformed over the centuries by
various renovation work.
Access to the church is gained through a Gothic portal.
The interior consists of a nave with aisles and a single side entrance.
Next to the church a girl's boarding-school was built by Don Pedro of Toledo in
1546. 19th century stuccowork has completely altered the original forms of the
church.
Note also the remains of the Bell Tower with its clock, both badly
damaged by the bombings of 1943.
