💀 The Church of Santa Luciella

💀🙏The Church of Santa Luciella  It was founded shortly before 1327 (14th century)  . Mystery and faith in the Heart of Naples and the legend of the skull with ears.....🦻🏻🪦

 ✅ It was closed and abandoned for over 30 years after the 1980 earthquake. It was reopened to the public in 2019 thanks to the efforts of the cultural association "Respiriamo Arte."

✅ The Church of Santa Luciella is located in the heart of Naples’ historic center, near San Gregorio Armeno. It’s a small Baroque gem dating back to the 14th century, known for its evocative atmosphere and for housing the famous “skull with ears,” a symbol of the cult of souls in Purgatory. After years of neglect, it has been restored and is now open to visitors thanks to the efforts of cultural associations. Its charm lies in the deep connection with Neapolitan popular tradition, rich in faith, mystery, and devotion.

The legend of the skull with ears

But what makes this church so special? What’s the “superstar” of Santa Luciella? No doubt about it—it’s Lucia  the famous skull with ears, preserved in the church’s catacombs.

 ✨ According to local legend:

✅  The ears were used to "hear" the prayers of the living

✅  It was a “special” skull, able to communicate with the afterlife

✅  It listened to requests, hopes, and even gave out winning lottery numbers 

This unique form of pagan devotion is part of the legendary cult of the “capuzzelle”, or anime pezzentelle—abandoned souls adopted by the faithful in exchange for protection.

✅ Here’s what to expect:

- The baroque altar and 18th-century frescoes

- The crypt, carved into the tuff rock, housing dozens of skulls

-  Mysterious Masonic symbols etched into the walls

✅ A little curiosity: 

👁️‍🗨️ The church is dedicated to Saint Lucia, the patron saint of sight. This is because the church was historically the seat of the ancient corporation of pipernieri—master artisans who carved piperno, a very hard volcanic stone. They venerated St. Lucia to protect their eyesight from stone splinters.

💀The church's main draw is the crypt (hypogeum), which houses the famous "Skull with Ears."

💀The Cult of the poor souls : The skull was deeply venerated as part of the Neapolitan "Cult of the Anime Pezzentelle," or the poor/abandoned souls in Purgatory. People would "adopt" an unknown skull (or capuzzella) from a common grave, care for it, and pray for its soul to be relieved of its suffering and ascend to Heaven. In return, the grateful soul would intercede with God to grant the faithful a grace or favor.

💀Special Significance: The "Skull with Ears" was particularly sought after because devotees believed that, having ears, it would be exceptionally adept at hearing and conveying their prayers and petitions to the afterlife.

💒The church is a powerful example of the profound and unique relationship between the living and the dead in Neapolitan culture, seen also in other sites like the Cimitero delle Fontanelle and the Complesso di Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco.

💒 It is now generally open for guided visits  , which are organized by the association that restored it. It's advisable to check the most current hours and booking information before visiting.

- Chiesa di Santa Luciella

- Address: Via Santa Luciella, 5 – just a short walk from San Gregorio Armeno

- On foot: from the “Dante”  metro stop, it’s less than a 15-minute walk

- Tours: guided only, in small groups. I recommend booking in advance through the official Respiriamo Arte website

- Ticket: at the entrance

Good reason to visit 

If you're visiting Naples and want to dive into the city’s most authentic soul, Santa Luciella is exactly what you’re looking for.

✅ A light against darkness—physical and spiritual

✅ A protector from invisible evils

✅ An intercessor during life’s most difficult moments

🙏  A centuries-old cult that perfectly reflects the ever-present blend of sacred and profane that defines Naples.