SAN GENNARO
Blood of a People
Naples, 19 September 2025
A DAY IN NAPLES WITH SAN GENNARO
by Maurizio Ponticello
He is called a “border saint” and the “last pagan deity of the city”: San Gennaro is the protagonist of the book by writer and journalist Maurizio Ponticello, titled “A Day in Naples with San Gennaro” published by Newton Compton.
San Gennaro emerges unscathed from the furnace by Giuseppe de Ribeira
The book, following “Maybe Not Everyone Knows That in Naples...” and “Touring Naples in 501 Places”, completes a trilogy of works dedicated to the city of the siren—its history, anecdotes, places, and figures. And Maurizio Ponticello brilliantly closes the circle, uncovering even more about one of the most venerated and debated saints in the world, navigating between faith and skepticism.
The author and writer Maurizio Ponticello
From the miracle to the dates that make this historical event so intriguing and mysterious; from parallels with other figures in Naples’ history—Virgil the magician above all, underlining that touch of magic that enhances the story—to the places in the city dedicated to him: the gate, the spire, the catacomb, the church.
The tomb of San Gennaro in the namesake catacomb
“It’s undeniable that Naples’ history is closely tied to the saint with whom the city identifies,” explains Ponticello at the book launch at the Mondadori bookstore in Castellammare di Stabia, with Pierluigi Fiorenza presenting — “You can't speak of identity and territory without knowing San Gennaro, because he represents the blood and the land — the perfect identity. San Gennaro is so well known that there are communities devoted to him all over the world: in Australia, Canada, Madagascar. Even the name of Rio de Janeiro (January River) is said to be linked to San Gennaro, and Brazilians have even dedicated a stadium to him—second only to Maracanã—known as Estádio São Januário. That makes for 25 million devotees worldwide, a saint with incredible records everywhere.”
The relics of San Gennaro in the Succorpo Chapel inside the Cathedral
The Church remains neutral on San Gennaro, allowing the cult to continue without officially taking a position—even avoiding the formation of a commission of inquiry into the miracle, which is more accurately described as a "prodigy".
When reconstructing the saint’s story through the endless ink spilled over centuries, some things don’t add up. For example, the woman said to have collected the saint’s blood in ampoules, the elderly Eusebia, is mentioned only in sources dating no earlier than the 15th–16th century. Similarly, the year 305 for his death is certainly incorrect—nothing more is heard about Gennaro for another 150 years. Paolino of Nola mentions him in 430, but in such a way that scholars believe it’s likely the result of source manipulation. This San Gennaro was unknown to Naples at the time, while the Church has tried to prove he was already widely venerated.
The bust of San Gennaro
And so we arrive at the “date of the blood”: the first recorded liquefaction on 17 August 1389. Chronicles only mention a procession for the miracle, but there is no mention of any event before or after.
The prodigy of the liquefaction of San Gennaro’s blood
The three most important dates dedicated to San Gennaro—often unknown—are: September 19, the date of his death, when the miracle is repeated; the Saturday before the first Sunday in May, marking the ancient "Inghirlandata" celebration (involving flower petal throwing and processions with silver saint statues and their jewels through the narrow Decumani streets); and December 16, commemorating the eruption of Vesuvius in 1631, when the faithful carried the saint’s relics in a spontaneous procession. December’s event is a secular celebration, so the non-liquefaction of the blood, as happened last year, is not considered particularly serious. What’s more intriguing is that no one monitors the blood during the remaining 353 days of the year. Some theories suggest the ampoule may contain a thixotropic substance—liquid when shaken, solid when still—known to medieval alchemists, or that the chamber housing it might function as a cooling cell. Regardless of the theory, the mystery remains: what happens to the blood the rest of the year?
The San Gennaro mural by Jorit, at the intersection of Via Duomo and Forcella
The story of the saint’s bones is equally murky: initially brought from the Marcian countryside to Naples’ suburban cemetery, as described in the 6th-century *Acta Bononiensia*, which contains many gaps. Ponticello attempts to provide answers, starting from a clear awareness: today, these sources are widely criticized, yet a new, more conscious way of viewing history is emerging—one that understands San Gennaro cannot be separated from the city, just as Parthenope will forever remain half-woman, half-bird.
Text source: ecampania.it
Sources:
Ecampania.it
Photos:
MaurizioPonticello.it
Catacombe di Napoli
Napolidavivere.it
Viverenapoli.it
Acistampa.it
Corriere del Ticino