The Monaciello of Naples
In old Naples, people said a small hooded monk slipped into houses at night, leaving coins for some and playing tricks on others.
What was reported
In Neapolitan folklore, the monaciello, 'little monk', is a small figure dressed in a monk's habit and hood, who appears in houses at night. To some families he leaves coins or good luck; to others he causes mischief, hiding things or pulling bedclothes.
Neapolitans still talk about him, and some say finding money unexpectedly is a sign of his visit.
Explanations offered
One popular explanation is historical: the 'pozzari', workers who maintained the city's ancient underground water cisterns, wore hooded clothes, and could reach houses through the wells. They may have been seen at night, and sometimes taken things or left them behind, giving rise to the legend.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Naples, Campania, Italy
- Witnesses
- Neapolitan tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.