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Fontanelle Cemetery

The cemetery of Fontanelle (called in Neapolitan "'e Funtanelle") is an ancient cemetery of the city of Naples, located in via Fontanelle. It is called this way because in ancient times there were many water sources. The cemetery houses about 40,000 remains of people who were victims of the great plague of 1656 and of cholera in 1836.

The cemetery is also known because there took place a particular rite, called the rite of the "souls pezzentelle", which included the adoption and arrangement of a skull (called "capuzzella") to which corresponded an abandoned soul (therefore called " pezzentella ») in exchange for protection.

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