The Fontanelle cemetery (called in Neapolitan “‘e Funtanelle”) is an ancient cemetery in 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 cholera in 1836.
The cemetery is also known because a particular rite was held there, called the rite of the “anime pezzentelle”, which involved the adoption and placement of a skull (called “capuzzella”) to which corresponded an abandoned soul (therefore called “pezzentella”) in exchange for protection.
