“Anime Pezzentelle”: Naples’ Purgatory
In Naples, even the afterlife has its own language — and one of its most intense dialects is spoken in the city’s underbelly, among crypts, ossuaries, and extinguished candles.
This is the cult of the anime pezzentelle — an ancient form of popular devotion to the anonymous souls in Purgatory, waiting for peace.
The term “pezzentelle” comes from “pezzente”, meaning “poor” or “miserable”: these are the souls of those who died without names, funerals, or prayers.
But in Naples, they are not forgotten. For centuries, the faithful adopted nameless skulls, cared for them, prayed to them, decorated them — hoping that, once saved, these souls might return the favor with protection and blessings.
Cimitero delle Fontanelle: temple of the cult
The symbolic heart of this practice is the Cemetery of the Fontanelle, located in the Rione Sanità district. This vast tuff cave houses over 40,000 human remains — many victims of plagues and famines.
In this space of makeshift altars and dim corridors, a silent, intimate dialogue developed between the living and the dead:
• Each devotee would choose a skull — their anima pezzentella — clean it, place it in a niche, and pray to it.
• In return, they awaited a sign: a dream, an intuition, a miracle.
• Some souls became “famous” for their powers, like Donna Concetta, whose skull is said to remain mysteriously shiny — as if it were sweating.
Today, the Fontanelle Cemetery is one of Naples’ most powerful hidden places — where the city’s invisible side reveals itself fully.
A practice no longer active, but still alive
Though the anime pezzentelle cult is no longer actively practiced — largely due to cultural preservation concerns — its spirit endures in symbolic and devotional forms.
One notable site is the Church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco, on Via dei Tribunali. In its evocative crypt, the deep connection between folk spirituality and ancient rituals is still palpable — with caged skulls, votive offerings, and heartfelt inscriptions.
Another intriguing location is the recently restored Church of Santa Luciella ai Librai, where one finds the famous skull with ears — the only one of its kind. According to legend, its ears served to “hear” the prayers of the living — a powerful symbol of the enduring dialogue between worlds.
Naples and the afterlife: a daily relationship
In Naples, the dead don’t disappear. They remain present in dreams, sayings, and rituals. The anime pezzentelle cult is one of the ways the city gave voice to the forgotten — recognizing the dignity of those once invisible.
This isn’t superstition. It’s a deeply rooted popular spirituality, born from poverty and faith, that still fascinates anthropologists, historians, and travelers today.
The anime pezzentelle remind us that Naples speaks with its dead — and listens to them in return.
A unique spiritual heritage to be approached with respect and wonder.
