5. Church of SS. Anime del Purgatorio (Souls of Purgatory)

The church is dedicated to all Saints and the Purgatory Souls and was built around mid-1600. The earthquake did not cause much damage. In fact, it was repaired and reopened for worship in 1696 (Fig. a).
A steep staircase surrounded by wrought-iron railings leads up to the church (Fig. b), which overlooks the Piazza della Repubblica. The façade is composed of two levels with a tympanum above and is divided into three parts by six large columns. In the central part is the doorway, decorated with floral motifs and surmounted by sculptures depicting the Purgatory Souls (Fig. c).
On the side of the main doorway are two small niches with a shell-shaped basin, housing the statues of Saint Paul and Saint Peter.
Throughout the 1700s, the church underwent considerable transformations. Originally with two naves, the church was converted into three naves with a large presbytery, and new roofs were installed. The naves are bordered by columns with Corinthian capitals (Fig. d), with a gilded stucco structure (Fig. e). The cornices, along the perimeter walls, are decorated with stuccoes, depicting skulls with hats of popes, cardinals and kings (Fig. f), as a warning to reflect on the brevity of life and the vanity of mankind’s ambitions.