The Black Penitents were established in 1329. Their order settled in the Sainte Marie Cathedral, which was then located in the castle’s citadel. A century later, in 1422, the brotherhood moved down to the lower town and established themselves in the Sainte Rรฉparate Church, which soon became the cathedral as Sainte Marie was abandoned for the development of Nice’s fortifications.
The new cathedral proved too small, and expansion and reconstruction work began in 1649, finishing fifty years later in 1699. The Black Penitents’ chapel is located within the new building, with the Chapel of Mercy in the south nave reserved for them.
This chapel, also known as the Chapel of the Four Consecrated Saints, along with the former baptistery (now the welcome desk), were both roughly where Sainte Rรฉparate Church was before the construction of the new cathedral. In 1827, the archconfraternity acquired the chapel dedicated to Saint Gaetan of the Theatines, which had been confiscated during the French occupation at the end of the 18th century.
This chapel, located on Cours Saleya, was restored between 1828 and 1829. It is a masterpiece of Niรงoise Baroque art. The Black Penitents were the first to create a charitable fund in Nice, thus changing their role which originally was to accompany the condemned to death for the salvation of their souls.
Although planned in 1674, the Saint Gaetan chapel was not built until 1739. Saint Gaetan, born in Vicenza in 1480, is the founder of the Theatines. This chapel was constructed on the site of the salt depots, near the Royal Palace. The chapel, at one point threatened in its foundations due to the creation of an underground parking lot, was restored along with its faรงade.
Be sure not to miss the sacristy where two artworks, one by Louis Brea and the other by Miralhetti, depict a Virgin of Mercy. This building has been listed as a historical monument since May 30, 1921.
Thierry Jan.
