The Fontanelle Cemetery is a cave that was used as a burial site in the Middle Ages. The thing is that Naples has always been a densely populated city. Therefore, in ancient times, bodies of people whose relatives did not have money for a normal funeral began to be taken to this cave. Moreover, after the plague epidemic, 300 thousand corpses were brought here! After that, the cave was walled up in order to stop the spread of the disease.
Once, after a flood, the remains of the dead were washed out of the cave. Then the streets of Naples were literally covered with bones! On the initiative of one of the priests, the bones began to be collected and taken back to the caves. The Neapolitans believed that if they looked after the bones of the dead, they would be forgiven for this sins.
As a result, a whole cult of reverence for the remains appeared - some skulls were even given names. But one day the Catholic Church admitted that this is somehow not Christian. Therefore, the cult ceased to exist about 50 years ago.
Tourists should come here at least to learn better about the attitude towards death of the Neapolitans. And also in order to once again understand that no one lives forever, therefore, every moment must be appreciated.
Marina Gosh
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