The Fontanelle Cemetery in Naples has reopened to the public after a period of neglect and closure. Located in the Rione Sanità neighborhood, the historic underground complex has undergone an urban renewal project aimed at improving the site’s accessibility and providing the neighborhood with new gathering spaces. The lighting design was entrusted to iGuzzini and is part of the G124 – Sanità program, coordinated by architect and senator for life Renzo Piano.
The project encompasses the entire area surrounding the cemetery. The churchyard of the Church of Maria Santissima del Carmine has been transformed into an urban plaza, while the adjacent staircase and a network of small plazas along Via Fontanelle contribute to the creation of spaces dedicated to public life and community gatherings. The experimental program for the enhancement, management, and promotion of the site is based on a special public-private partnership and was developed as part of the G124 Naples project at the Department of Architecture of the University of Naples Federico II.
The centerpiece of the project isthe entrance to the FontanelleCemetery, redesigned as a welcoming space. Here, the lighting serves a dual purpose: it highlights the architecture and natural features of the quarry and helps ensure safe access to the various areas throughout the day. The entrance ramp is illuminated by lines of Underscore light , which accentuate its depth. Palco InOut and Agorà fixtures complete the installation, highlighting the natural vaulted ceiling and emphasizing the entranceway. The color temperature and illuminance levels guide visitors’ transition to the underground spaces, where Linealuce 37 linear fixtures create effects of light and shadow within the ossuary.
The complex houses the remains of approximately 40,000 people—victims of plagues, famines, earthquakes, and cholera epidemics—as well as those who could not afford a traditional burial. The site is located within an ancient tuff quarry carved into the Materdei hill, known as Fontanelle because of the streams of water that once flowed down from the surrounding hills. For at least four centuries, the site has been linked to the veneration of the Souls in Purgatory, a practice deeply rooted in Neapolitan culture that involves acts of devotion and prayers dedicated to the deceased.
Luminaires with different characteristics were selected for the project. Agorà, designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte and awarded the ADI Compasso d’Oro International in 2025, is installed with a wide flood optic and a color temperature of 3000 K. The family includes various light distributions, optics, color temperatures, wattages, and combinations, with solutions designed to minimize visual and environmental impact. Palco, designed by Artec Studio, is installed on a base with a medium optic and a color temperature of 3000 K. The range includes compact and versatile luminaires, with different optics and accessories to adapt the light to the characteristics of the spaces. The project renews the collaboration between iGuzzini and Renzo Piano, which began in 1987 with the redevelopment of the Lingotto in Turin and continued with other international projects: from the renovation of the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2000 to the construction of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in Athens in 2016, through to the Paris Courthouse in 2018 and the Genoa San Giorgio Bridge (formerly the Morandi Bridge) in 2020.
The 2026 project was designed by Marino Amodio, Giuseppe De Pascale, Orazio Nicodemo, and Davide Savoia, with Nicola Flora and Daniela Buonanno serving as scientific directors. Marino Amodio oversaw the lighting design, while Fabrizio Bossi handled the structural engineering. The construction contractor is Coop4art, while the systems were installed by Elleemme spa.
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| Naples: iGuzzini Lighting Marks the Reopening of the Fontanelle Cemetery |
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