Treasure of San Gennaro goes on display in Rome

(Vatican Radio)The rarely seen treasure of San Gennaro, Patron Saint of Naples, has gone on display in Rome for the first time. Lydia O’Kane went along to view this remarkable exhibition. Listen:
For the first time the treasure of San Gennaro or Saint Januarius has left its native city of Naples and traveled to Rome for an unprecedented exhibition.
Seventy pieces of the treasure, which is said to be more valuable that Britain’s Crown Jewels, are currently on show at the city’s Palazzo Sciarra and includes silver, jewels and religious items.
Each part of the collection has been donated over many years to this 3^rd century Saint who the people of Naples credit with protecting them from war, plagues and earthquakes.
Paolo Jorio is the Director of the San Gennaro Museum of Treasure in Naples and is curator of this Rome exhibition. He explains why is has taken so long for the treasure to leave its home.
“The treasure has been collection from 1305 until today, and it is very long seven centuries … To do this exhibition in Rome I needed to consolidate the museum… now we are ready to go the world.”
The exhibition features the empty reliquary that holds a vial of San Gennaro’s blood, which regularly turns into liquid form on his feast day. But Paolo Jorio says there are also other highlights. “Jewels like the mitre or necklace… are maybe the highlights.”
The Rome Foundation Museum exhibit at Palazzo Sciarra runs until February 16^th.