The Legend of the Devil of Mergellina

This is the popular saying that describes an unexpected, otherworldly beauty. In our city, Naples, there are places and stories still waiting to be discovered and appreciated.

True hidden treasures of the past that deserve to be revealed to the world. On this occasion, we find ourselves in the district of Mergellina, where a true artistic gem lies hidden: the Church of Santa Maria del Parto, a small monumental building set into the rock.

But what are the origins of the legend of the Devil of Mergellina? Let us go back in time, to the first half of the sixteenth century, an era in which the sacred and the profane were separated by a thin line. The legend tells of Vittoria D'Avalos, a beautiful and captivating Neapolitan noblewoman, who fell madly in love with the Irpinian bishop Diomede Carafa. Despite her many suitors, her obsession with the man of God grew stronger and stronger, driving her to seek his love at any cost.

Vittoria turned to magic and summoned the Alemanna, a witch who prepared a love elixir for her. The noblewoman poured the elixir over some sweet fritters to be given to the poor, and the bishop, moved by her act of Christian charity, decided to taste them first.

But the gift turned out to be a curse, for Diomede found himself overwhelmed by intense carnal desire for the enchanting woman. Only thanks to his faith in God and the vow of chastity he had taken was he able to resist temptation. Aware that he was the victim of a spell, the bishop summoned an exorcist who, through prayers and invocations, sought to free him from the enchantment. The exorcist also advised that a painting be created, depicting the Archangel Michael, God's warrior, defeating the Devil in the form of Donna Vittoria. It was made with pigments mixed with a balm against curses, blessed with holy water and placed in a sacred spot. And so the handsome bishop managed to free himself from the demonic bond and cast out the temptation for good.

Important literary figures, such as Benedetto Croce and Matilde Serao, who included the story in her book "Leggende napoletane" (Neapolitan Legends), have made reference to this tale. The story of Vittoria D'Avalos remains a fascinating account of an impossible love, and from it comes the famous saying "Sì bella e 'nfame comme 'o riavule 'e Mergellina" (You're as beautiful and wicked as the Devil of Mergellina), used to describe an irresistible yet dangerous beauty.