Naples, San Pietro ai due frati

“A romantic legend in the heart of Naple between loves, betrayal and tragedy”

by Fabrizio Fiorenzano

Naples, as is well known, is a wonderful city with unique breathtaking views fascinating landscapes, and a generous nature, but it is also a place full of mysteries, hidden and secret areas and popular and historical traditions that often are not even known by the city’s inhabitants..

It is a seaside town where the sea often plays the central role but also the backdrop to many stories that represent the uniqueness of this place.

In one of the most beautiful and fascinating streets of Naples, via Posillipo, full of luxury villas and private gardens where live the richest people of the city.

There’s a little and almost hidden street beginning nearby the civic number 37 and formed by 200 steps and leads directly to the sea.

Its name is “Discesa San Pietro ai due frati”. The name San Pietro derives by a little chirch (Chapel of St. Peter the Aposle) and never found, which was built nearby by local fishermen.

The street connects the hill of Posillipo to the sea and in ancient times the inhabitants, especially fishermen, frequented these areas since the sixteenth century where they lived and dedicated themselves to fishing.

Slowly going down this descent, on the left you can notice luxurious villas and splendid glimpses of the Gulf of Naples with Vesuvius in the background and you pass in front of some very suggestive characteristic private homes built entirely on the yellow Neapolitan tuff, an ancient symbol of the city of Partenope.

The name of the descent boasts a fascinating history as it derives from an intense story of love and betrayal which is the basis of a legend that features two brothers, Luigi and Carmine, who saved a beautiful girl called Concetta from a terrible downpour.

According to legend, as time passed, both young men fell in love with Concetta, sharing their love for the same girl.

One day, however, during a Carnival masquerade party, Luigi could not resist his passion and decided to take the craziest and most fatal step he could: taking advantage of the masquerade party, he disguised himself and decided to kidnap Concetta, taking her with him to the end of the staircase that ends two meters from the sea.

Photos by Fabrizio Fiorenzano
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