Fontanelle Cemetery

Seeing the underground and catacombs of Naples is pretty popular. I haven't personally been to the catacombs under some of the more popular churches here in Naples. This is the first cemetery area I have been to in Naples and it was really cool.

The story goes that in the 16th century the city was starting to get full and they wanted to look for places outside of the city walls to put the graves but the locals didn't like that idea so they wanted to be buried under their churches. So the churches started to reorganize the current bodies so make more room. And then in 1658 the plague hit Naples hard and bodies by the thousands needed a place to lay. The bombings of WWII also left many bodies unburied. This cemetery came to be known as the unofficial resting place of the poor. Then in the late 1800s people started naming the skulls and bringing offerings to them and cleaning them and visiting everyday. It became such a cult following that in 1969 the cardinal of Naples ordered it to be closed. 

Today it is a historical site and many people visit. It is also free to visit which is great. There are remains from an estimated 40,000 people. It is a little weird/ scary for foreigner to see because we aren't use to seeing human remains and when we do they are usual on the movies in some sort of scary movie but the Italians don't think of this place as scary. It is a place of honor and people want to make sure that the souls of the remaining bodies get out of purgatory. 

There is also this awesome painted church just before the entrance to the cemetery. I love a good mural and this church does not disappoint. 
love, Carlee