120:. The cult dates back to the 17th Century and involves the ritual burning of candles dedicated to the so-called "pezzentelle" ("little wretches"), i.e., the soul of the "nameless dead" whose bones are preserved in the ossuary. More specifically, Neapolitan families traditionally "choose" one specific skull from the ossuary and take care of it (cleaning it up, repositioning it properly in the ossuary, and so on), with the intent that the "adopted" nameless soul will repay those attentions with good luck and blessings. While the cult has a general Catholic frame (as the "pezzentelle" are usually identified as
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As Rione Sanità is somewhat a symbol of the poorest, most degraded (but also most "picturesque") character of Naples, the place is widely referenced in popular culture. In particular, it was chosen as a setting for a number of movies from the
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have long characterized the quarter. The dramatic situation of the area has attracted volunteer and humanitarian efforts, such as those of the
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While the settlement in Rione Sanità was originally established as a home for noble and rich families of Naples' aristocracy (as witnessed by
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One of the most peculiar traits of Rione della Sanità is a unique cult and ritual that takes place in the
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Probably the most famous person from Rione Sanità was the 20th
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that have been operating for years in support of Rione Sanità's population.
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quarter. It is located north of Naples' historical centre, adjacent to the
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303:(1963). Another notable portrait of Rione Sanità in art is
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243:Chiesa di Santa Maria Succurre Miseris ai Vergini
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54:What is now Rione Sanità was a burial place in
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30:(literally "Health Neighbourhood" in
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222:Chiesa di Sant'Aspreno ai Crociferi
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238:Chiesa della Missione ai Vergini
211:Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita
16:Neighbourhood in Naples, Italy
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300:Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
278:References in popular culture
100:The rite of the "pezzentelle"
343:Il cimitero delle Fontanelle
310:Il sindaco del rione Sanità
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217:Immacolata e San Vincenzo
249:San Severo fuori le mura
206:Santa Maria della Sanità
189:San Gennaro extra Moenia
182:Santa Maria della Sanità
34:) is a neighbourhood in
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233:Santa Maria dei Vergini
200:Santa Maria Antesaecula
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158:Palazzo dello Spagnolo
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260:Complesso dei Cinesi
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285:Italian neorealism
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332:. 2 August 2021.
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297:(1954) and
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44:Capodimonte
386:Categories
359:14°14′57″E
356:40°51′33″N
247:Church of
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130:syncretic
122:Purgatory
71:catacombs
307:'s play
80:such as
330:"Rione"
116:of the
114:ossuary
90:Camorra
78:palazzi
64:hypogea
50:History
32:Italian
132:cult.
46:hill.
40:Stella
36:Naples
126:pagan
56:Roman
272:Totò
84:and
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