Santo Agnello

The church of Sant’Agnello Maggiore stands on the highest point of ancient Naples, the Caponapoli, on the site of earlier Greek and Roman buildings. It is dedicated to St Agnellus, a sixth-century abbot and one of the city’s co-patrons, who was born and buried there. Rebuilt over the centuries, the church was badly damaged in the bombing of 1943 and remained closed for decades.

Its most famous legend concerns a crucifix that spoke. A woman had been seduced by a young man who promised to marry her, then denied the promise. When she called the crucifix as her witness, it declared “I am witness”. A church already known for a talking crucifix was a natural centre for the miracle fever of 1944.