Fontanelle Cemetery Naples: visiting in 2026
The Cimitero delle Fontanelle is a former tuff quarry on the Materdei hill at Via Fontanelle 80, now a vast ossuary. It reopened to the public on 18 April 2026, with regular visits from 19 April 2026. Entry is by reservation, and a visit lasts at most 40 minutes.
You can book the cemetery on its own, or see it as part of a walk through the Rione Sanità. A walk adds context and a route through the neighbourhood, a direct ticket gives you more freedom on timing.
Our picks: visiting the Fontanelle Cemetery
Both tours include the cemetery and a walk through the Sanità. The one that meets at Materdei metro is the easier to reach, the other adds two baroque palazzi.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Fontanelle and Sanità: a two-hour walk
- Fontanelle Cemetery entry
- Licensed guide
- Sweet to taste
Entry to the cemetery is included, and you meet outside Materdei metro station, so it is easy to reach.
Check availability →
Rione Sanità and Fontanelle Cemetery on foot
- Fontanelle Cemetery visit
- Palazzo dello Spagnuolo and Sanfelice
- Sweet break
A two-hour walk through the district that ends at the cemetery. It does not include entry to the Ipogeo dei Cristallini.
Check availability →Fontanelle Cemetery visits and walks
Guided walks through the Rione Sanità that include the Fontanelle Cemetery.
Fontanelle Cemetery tickets and rules
What to expect when you book.
| Question | Answer (2026) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:15 |
| Closed | Wednesday and 25 December |
| Reservation | Required. Leftover tickets may be on sale at the site, so do not count on walking in. |
| Entry slots | Every 15 minutes, groups up to 25, no more than 75 people inside at once |
| Length of visit | 40 minutes at most |
| Price | From EUR 6 with audio guide, from EUR 8 with a guide. Residents of the II and III Municipalità enter free after booking. |
| Mondays and Fridays | 9:00 to 10:00 is prayer access in a dedicated area, not a tourist tour |
For most visitors, a timed ticket with the audio guide is enough. Choose the guided version or a Rione Sanità walk if you want the story behind the skulls explained.
The history of the Cimitero delle Fontanelle
An ossuary for people nobody could name.
The cemetery holds the remains of anonymous dead and victims of epidemics. Its history includes the plague of 1656 and the cholera of 1836 to 1837. In 1872 Gaetano Barbati reorganised the bones.
Over time a devotion grew up around the unnamed skulls, the capuzzelle, known as the cult of the anime pezzentelle. People cared for a skull and prayed for the soul it belonged to, in the hope of that soul's intercession. It is a practice of faith, and the visit is easier to understand if you see it that way.
A church decree banned the cult and closed the ossuary in 1969. A structural closure followed in 2020, the management was awarded to a social cooperative in 2023, and the site reopened in 2026 as a partnership between the Comune di Napoli and that cooperative.
How to visit with respect
Practical points for the day.
Keep your voice low
Speak quietly and put your phone on silent. This is a place of prayer for many Neapolitans.
Photos
Photos and video are allowed, with consideration for other visitors.
Climate
It is cooler and damper inside than outside, so bring a light layer.
Audio guide
Download it before you arrive, because reception inside is poor.
Access
Step-free access is not assured. Contact the operator before you go if you need it.
Combine the Fontanelle with the Sanità
Two ways to build a day.
The cemetery stands on the Materdei hill, not far from the Rione Sanità. A walk can combine it with the district and its palazzi, as in the Fontanelle and Sanità walks in the tour list above. Underground sites in the area each have their own ticket, so a Fontanelle ticket does not include the Ipogeo dei Cristallini or the catacombs.
Fontanelle Cemetery: frequently asked questions
Is the Fontanelle Cemetery open?
Yes. It reopened on 18 April 2026 and has had regular visits since 19 April 2026. It is open 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Wednesday and 25 December.
Do I need to reserve?
Yes, reservation is required. Entry runs in 15-minute slots. Leftover tickets may be sold on site, but do not rely on that.
How much is the entrance?
The tariffs start at EUR 6 with an audio guide and EUR 8 with a guide (2026). Residents of the II and III Municipalità enter free after booking. Check the current ticket page for the full list.
How long does a visit take?
At most 40 minutes inside. A walk through the Sanità that includes it takes longer.
Can I take photos?
Photos and video are allowed, with consideration for other visitors. Keep your voice low.
Is there a ticket that also covers the Ipogeo or the catacombs?
No. Each site has its own entrance and ticket. Only the San Gennaro ticket also opens San Gaudioso for 12 months.