Naples

Origins of the Presepe (Nativity Scene): Saint Francis of Assisi and the Journey to Bethlehem. The Italian word “Presepe” comes from the Latin praesepe, which referred to a manger or an enclosure for animals. The terms prae and saeps literally mean “in front of the hedge”. The word itself reflects the simplicity and humility of the ...

Who Was Saint Januarius? Origins, Name and the First Accounts of His Life.Saint Januarius, known in ancient texts as Ianuarius, emerged in the Christian world of the 3rd century as a bishop, martyr and, in the centuries that followed, the beloved Patron Saint of Naples. His name, of Latin origin, means "dedicated to Janus" or "born in the month of ...

What Are Votive Shrines (or Votive Altars)?Votive shrines, also known in Naples as Votive Altars, are small sacred structures placed along streets, at the corners of narrow alleys, in courtyards and on the facades of buildings. They house sacred images, especially those of the Virgin Mary and the Saints, and represent a popular form of ...

Religious Tradition in Naples - Faith, Art and Popular Devotion. Anyone who has visited Naples at least once, or who lives there, cannot fail to notice that the city is an open-air museum, with more than 500 historic churches and a concentration of masterpieces from ancient eras that make it one of the most religious capitals of Southern ...