The Cult of the Souls of the Pezzentelle and a quarry transformed into a public ossuary located in the Sanità district, known for being the place where the remains of thousands of victims of the plague and cholera, as well as the poor and those without a dignified grave, were collected.
The Fontanelle Cemetery, a unique site that is definitely worth a visit.
It was formerly a tuff quarry, later transformed into an ossuary to accommodate the victims of major epidemics, such as the plague of 1656, the cholera of 1836, and later also the bones of the “terresante,” the burials of churches emptied after the French occupation.
It is located in the Sanità district of Naples, a place of strong historical and cultural impact where thousands of skulls arranged in niches are found, many with plaques, candles, and letters.
It was precisely in this quarry that the “Anime Pezzentelle” ritual took place, involving the adoption and care by a Neapolitan of a specific skull of an abandoned soul (called a Capuzzella) in exchange for protection.
The Pezzentelle Souls
In Neapolitan worship, the “Pezzentelle Souls” represent the souls of the forgotten deceased, often without an identity and without a dignified burial, such as victims of epidemics, poverty, or disasters.
They symbolize Naples’ connection with the afterlife and compassion towards the less fortunate.
These souls are considered “in need” of spiritual help, meaning they ask for prayers, attention, and compassionate gestures from the living so that they can find peace in the afterlife and shorten their stay in Purgatory.
The cult is based on a reciprocal relationship: the devotee cares for a skull (“capuzzella”) by adopting it, cleaning it, and decorating it, offering prayers, candles, and small gifts, and housing it in special niches. In return, it is believed that the soul offers grace and assistance.
The soul can intercede with God or offer protection, revealing dreams, and, according to popular tradition, favor earthly fortunes such as winning lottery numbers.
The term “pezzentelle” derives from the Latin “petere,” meaning “to ask to obtain.”
This exchange reflects a profound popular piety and solidarity between the living and the dead. A way to honor and offer comfort to these forgotten souls
Don Gaetano Barbati
Before 1872, the cemetery was a haphazard repository of bones of victims of plague, famine, and cholera, accumulated unchecked over time.
Don Barbati, with the help of the women of the neighborhood (“e’ maste”) and the support of the cardinal, arranged approximately 40,000 bones in a symbolic order, divided into three main naves: Priests, Plague Victims, and Pezzentelle.
Thus, a sacred order was given to the ossuary: the skulls were placed along the tuff walls as if in an “underground basilica.”
The Fontanelle Cemetery is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is always free. There is no ticket to access the site.
The cult of the Anime Pezzentelle is also present within the Museum Complex of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco, also in Naples, where it is possible to see testimonies and rituals related to these souls.
Via delle Fontanelle 80
Naples
Campania – Italy
Website info (for guided tours)
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