Myths and legends about Massa Lubrense

Massa Lubrense’s territory, apart from being full of natural beauty, is shrouded in magic and mystery, since it has been the background to numerous myths and legends. These are episodes of historical significance that have marked European culture. However, few people know that these mythical stories took place precisely in this territory. For this reason, we have selected for you some of the most famous and curious myths and legends about Massa Lubrense.

The myth of the sirens

Among the most famous myths, there’s the one about the sirens. They are very particular figures, widely present in the collective and cultural imagination of Greece, like Homer’s Odyssey shows.
As a matter of fact, in this very narrative, we find these mythical-looking creatures – half woman and half bird or fish – with a bewitching and deceiving character.
According to the myth, the Homeric sirens lived in the current Li Galli islets, which the ancients called Sirenuse – a toponym deriving from them. From there, the sirens tempted the sailors with their songs: enchanted by their voices, these men dangerously approached the rocky coasts, breaking against them with their ships. Once drowned, mermaids devoured their bodies.
Ulysses was a sailor, too. He found himself crossing this area during his return to Ithaca. However, he was well aware of the enchanting qualities of these creatures, so he ordered his men to tie him up and plug their ears with wax. Legend has it that the mermaids, frustrated and disappointed by their failure, threw themselves into the sea, letting themselves die and be carried away by the waves.

The Vervece

“O’ Revece”, or the Vervece, is a small and characteristic rock of Massa Lubrense that rises between the waters of Marina della Lobra. It is the background to the story of two painters: Carlo Amalfi and his false friend, Luigi Blower. The latter did a series of bad actions toward poor Carlo. Therefore, Carlo decided to take revenge: one day, knowing that there would be a storm, he invited his friend Luigi to take a boat ride. The storm arrived and Luigi, in panic and tears, asked Carlo to land wherever possible. It was then that Carlo approached the Vervece, made his friend climb the rock, and left him there, shouting that it was time for him to reflect on all the evil he had caused him.

The following morning Carlo returned to the Vervece but realized that there was no trace of Luigi, so he found himself with the remorse of having caused his death. Carlo, then, went on with his life carrying this terrible sense of guilt that gave him no peace.

One day, feeling that his time had come, he called a friar of the Capuchin convent to confess. Having revealed the crime that had tormented him all his life, Carlo discovered that the friar was his friend Luigi Blower, who, on the day of the incident, had been saved by a Procidan boat. He had retired to a convent to atone for his sins. At this point, Carlo was able to die, relieved of the pain that had so far troubled him.

The Janare of “Prete Janche”

Another mysterious legend about Massa Lubrense, and in particular the locality of Prete Janche, is the one about the janare. According to popular imagination, the janara is a flying female monster that acts at night and is found above all in the Nerano area.
In ancient times, in the period from September to November, quail hunters went to Prete Janche, a location in the territory that was very favorable for hunting these birds, especially during the night. However, legend has it that this place was also the gathering of the janare. In fact, the hunters found themselves witnessing strange phenomena: at night, even when the weather was good, whirls of air created in the sky, followed by whistles. According to some testimonies, on some occasions big and impregnable birds appeared and strange songs and screams were heard. As a result, all these events made anyone who had only tried to get close to that area run away and never come back.

The bell of Punta Campanella

During the devastating Turkish invasion of 1558 in Massa Lubrense and Sorrento, the Saracens sacked the church of Sant’Antonino Abate, patron saint of Sorrento. Among the various precious objects stolen inside of it, there was also the bronze bell. However, when the fleet left Sorrento, near Punta Campanella, a mysterious force blocked the ship carrying the bell, preventing it from going on. The Turkish pirates began to throw some of the stolen goods into the sea in an attempt to leave. But only when they got rid of the bell did they succeed. Since then, on February 14 of each year – the day of the patron saint – the sound of the bell of Punta Campanella is heard coming from the bottom of the sea.

These are just some of the fantastic stories and legends about Massa Lubrense. Another opportunity to let yourself be guided to discover a thousand shades that make up this magical territory.