The Pezzentelle Souls Of Santa Luciella - Guided Tour

We only seen this by chance while passing but really enjoyed the short tour. Fascinating insite in to the history of Naples and some of its old practices!

Very nice chapel that has been recently renovated by the group of staff that is also performing the tour. I am normally against paying for seeing Churches, but this is for a good cause since it is helping them keep and recover the chapel, which was for 40 years an illegal trash dump place. The history is very interesting and one can definitely feel the energy of the place when in the basement. Highly recommended !!

I strongly suggest experiencing Santa Luciella's church and the skull with ears in the "underground cemetery". Tough it might be a bit scary and melancholic, it's a short visit that helps supporting the association and the renewal of the place (6 euros pp). The guides were very kind, we entered as first, and they straightly allowed us to go around the place while explaining it. At the bottom, you see many skulls and you can leave a prayer right in front of the skull with ears.

A lot of history packed into a small place. Guided tour was very informative and all the staff were great. Crazy to think this place was lost for so long!! If in Naples you definitely have to come here!

We had a fascinating guided tour from Giovanni who is part of the association actively involved in restoring this church. Small in size but big in heart this church has a history that needs to be heard more widely. A moving experience!

Highly recommended visit to one of the smaller churches in Naples, with lots of information about its history, the restoration works carried out and the traditions of the Neapolitans in caring for the human remains inside the crypt, including the famous skull with the ears. Our guide was very nice and made the visit both interesting and fun 🙂

The church is small but has an outsized history. The restoration work is ongoing, revealing frescos under preserving plaster in the undercroft. The guides associated with the site are part of a nonprofit supporting the restoration and conservation of the site and are enthusiastic about sharing its history with visitors. Well worth the short detour from higher profile tourist stops in the Naples’ Decumanus neighborhood.

This is one of the most interesting tours I have visited. The story of this church is one of a kind, and it definitely helps you understand the story of the city. As a guide, Lisa was truly outstanding. 100% recommended

A short and worthwhile tour with interesting insights into the Santa Luciella church and its restoration. Many thanks to our kind guide Sabrina, who made the experience truly special.

This was one of the coolest places that I saw on my trip! So glad that I went! The tour is in Italian but they give you something to read in English.

The church was interesting and only accessible when you were doing a guided tour. I would only recommend this tour if you are fluent in Italian. They offer a paper with some information about the church but this is in no way comparable to the information given in Italian by the tour guide.

interesting, the tour was only in Italian (most of the group spoke Italian) despite being told it would be in English but the tour guide took time to stay after the tour and answer any of our questions along with the other English-speaking members of the group. short but interesting and nearby was the street with all the local crafts being displayed and sold on a Sunday. So go on Sunday. It's also close to the chapel with the sculpture of Jesus with the veil.

A must when in Napoli! This is a small church with an intresting history. Used as a dump after the earthquake and still under excavation. The crypt under the church has a history of a Napolitan cult of the dead were purgatory was a big deal. the guide is interesting, well-read and very engaged.

We stumbled across this small church, and had a guided tour in English. Our guide was excellent - she clearly had a deep passion and interest in preserving an interesting part of the history of Naples. Highly recommended.

Very small "church" but with a lot of history. The basement houses graves with skulls etc... you learn a lot about the cult that used this place. Guided tour is mandotory.

Great guide and an interesting place. Well worth a short visit: you have to book a time slot! It is located in a tiny alley but Google maps will get you there.

We spent a day in Napoli and obviously had to enter here. The guided tour was very informative and interesting. Definitely a place to visit. Though I have no idea what the waiting times are here in summer, when we went in December we were made part of a small group and the tour immediately started.

Very nice museum with very nice and smart guides. Short, but entertaining tour. I highly recommend this tour if you want to know more about Napolitan beliefs in afterlife.

Beautiful little church with a lots of history . Easy to arrive and the tour guide really good at explaining . I totally advice to go there , A lot of neapolitan history really interesting.

A beautiful and interesting experience. The skulls are terrific and the story is incredibly new for us. The tourist guides are very kind and skilled.

Our guide was fantastic in explaining the history of the church and the restoration that it has experienced and is still ongoing. A fascinating story with a very unique underground cemetery. Would highly recommend visiting.

It's a gorgeous little place tucked away in the historical centre of Naples. The guide (Eleanora) was really helpful, knowledgeable and gave some really interesting information about the history of the place but also the process of restoration.

Very fascinating restoration of an very old church. The tour guide was very knowledge and clearly passionate about the mission. Provides a unique appreciation of Neapolitan history and culture Definitely with a visit. We spent around half an hour here so was a perfect short stop before lunch

It was a last minute decision to visit the place, located in a very unassuming corner of a busy street. Though a small church, the work that the association has put in to restore the place is truly admirable. A short 20 mins tour but full of interesting nuggets of information about the church and the traditions of Naples. Overall, great visit and lovely staff.

This is a fantastic small tour to explore and at only €5 a bargain. The volunteers are knowledgable and are passionate about restoring this forgotten church. Not only do you learn about the church but also the people and customs of Napoli. It’s easily missed and I found it by accident. Defitnely add it to your to-do list

Me and my partner found this little museum church randomly. We went on tour that lasted about 20 minutes. It was truly special. The folks who work here are passionate and devoted. You could see the most beautiful church in Italy but the love and devotion in this church is incomparable. The skulls of those unburied are looked after and cared for. I forgot the name of the woman who did the tour for us but she was so lovely. Strongly recommend if you want to feel true faith.

It was a really cute tour ! This visit is led by "Respiriamo Arte", an association that is taking care of preserving Neapolitans heritage and history. Eleonora, our guide, was fantastic and answered all of our questions. I 100% recommend checking this little curiousity chapel while in the historical center !

We absolutely loved this. Ticket included a tour and a talk. We’re English so our tour group consisted of just us!! My teens enjoyed this and were amazed by the history and artefacts displayed. U must visit and whilst you’re there pop into the Torture museum right next to it. Our kids were disappointed we couldn’t go but we ran out of time.

This place is very unique and the history is interesting. It's definitely a work in progress but the group of students who are behind this project has already done some impressive work. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

Really interesting wee tour, offered in English and takes you through the church and their restoration of it. Cheap and as they go along, making more improvements to the place. Would recommend

Staff is super nice and friendly. We had a very lovely guide who gave us very informative oversight of the history about the church etc. Huge respect for all people who are working on restoration. Do not miss this small but entertaining church while in Naples.

This a local project working hard to preserve and restore this small church. Inexpensive really and it is for a good cause. Interesting small catacombs and the skull with ears.

Hidden gem in the city center. The guided tour (offered in Italian and English) is interesting and entertaining, and helps to understand the traditions and spirituality of the city. The church and crypt are stunning and definitely unusual. Very fairly priced.

Staff is professional and friendly. The church is a jewels, sth yoi have to see in the historic centre of Naples. I would give a special thanks to the guy who decide to restaurate that church, hope u all the best for your activities. Next week i am going to visit ss. Filippo and Giacomo, the other church they manage.

We visited the Church today and loved it. The guide was in English and Italian and told us a lot of very interesting anecdotes. The little show of the rubbish found in the church is itself a museum within a museum and a note to remember not to repeat old mistakes. The association "let's breath art" have done an amazing job to make sure that the public can enjoy the church again. Absolutely worth a visit.

A very different experience of a church visit. Interesting but short enough tour telling the history of the church and the cemetery in the cellar. Fascinating to see the skulls and the messages on the graves. Highly recommended!

We did the tour and for €5 it was well worth it. We only stopped by because my wife was intrigued by the skull with the ears but it was great to hear the story of the history of the church, the ongoing restoration and future plans. Keep up the the good work! Don't be put off by the pointed hood outfit in the window, it's nothing to do with the KKK.

I highly recommend taking the tour (5 euro, 20 minutes) to see this site, which is only accessible via guided tour. Don't let the marketing of the eared skeleton fool you into thinking this a tourist trap: it is a small, special gem of Naples! Our guide, Claudio, was exceptional, as was his colleague. The tour was quick but thorough, and it was very thoughtful, providing insights into the history of both the building, its relationship to the city, and its restoration. I especially appreciate the initiative of young Neapolitans to conserve and celebrate their city's heritage. The "shrine" of things found at the site after years of neglect was an especially nice touch. If you have the time, I would recommend the combined ticket (7 euro) that allows you to also receive a guided tour of the Chiesa dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo, which has a similar story of salvation following decades of neglect and deterioration. Don't miss this hidden gem of Naples!

Visiting this church is something very different and extremely interesting because you can't expect its history and what is "hidden" there. Massimo is a perfect Guide, able to lead you inside the atmosphere of the place through his tales and passion in what they are doing. It deserves a visit and a contribution to the incredible work these young people are doing trying to revaluate forgktten places full of histories and mysteries. Lucia

Davvero luogo unico e meritevole

La guida è stata esaustiva. Il tour lo consiglio

A truly very interesting and unique view. The guided tour explains the history and the spirit of the place well. Recommended

I am from Naples but I had never been to this church. Sites of greater renown are always preferred; this one, in its own small way, is very fascinating. I recommend that if you are in Naples, and especially if you are from Naples, you go there; you will find a piece of history to discover.

Beautiful little historic church that must absolutely be visited, prepared and competent guide

Very beautiful and evocative. The guide was very good

A special encounter with a wonderful tradition. Thank you Giusy and thank you to the souls.

Beautiful visit! The guide was very good at telling us the history of the abandoned church and the "anime pezzentelle" (souls in purgatory). An interesting and evocative experience, important for keeping alive traditions that deserve not to be forgotten. Highly recommended!

A commendable association

Very fascinating insight into the Neapolitan cult of the dead, authentic and not overcrowded with tourists. Highly recommended.