The Cult of the Souls of Purgatory

The cult of the souls of Purgatory

The Naples audio-guided tour stops you before the church of Santa Maria of the Souls of Purgatory, a place of worship and memory that invites contemplation. It is dedicated to a popular devotion deeply rooted in the painful history of the city, approached here with gravity and respect.

A devotion born of hardship

The cult of the souls of Purgatory developed strongly in the 17th century, when Naples was struck by terrible disasters: the eruption of Vesuvius in 1631, then the great plague of 1656, which decimated the population. For lack of room to bury the dead, the remains were gathered outside the city, at the Fontanelle cemetery. The Neapolitans took the habit of praying for these anonymous souls, in an impulse of compassion towards the forgotten dead.

What there is to see

The church, built in the 17th century, bears witness to this devotion through its decoration adorned with skulls and funerary symbols, which recall the fragility of life. In the basement, a crypt preserves the memory of these souls. One enters with contemplation, keeping in mind that it is a place of prayer and memory of the dead, and not a mere curiosity.

Practical information

The church of Santa Maria of the Souls of Purgatory is on Via dei Tribunali, in the historic centre of Naples. Access to the church and the crypt may be ticketed and subject to variable hours; it is best to check in advance. A place of worship and memory, it requires proper dress, silence and a contemplative attitude.

Why did this cult develop in Naples ?

It arose in the 17th century in the face of the disasters that struck the city, the 1631 eruption of Vesuvius and the 1656 plague, and the multitude of anonymous dead.

How should the visit to this church be approached ?

With contemplation and respect: it is a place of prayer and memory of the dead, linked to a still-living popular devotion.