The legend of the “worn slippers of Our Lady of the Annunciation”
Every year, on 25 March, the Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata Maggiore in the ancient heart of Naples, Forcella, celebrates with deep devotion the Madonna of the worn-out slippers.
This particular religious icon has for centuries been a symbol of hope and protection, especially for those who were once called “the children of the Madonna”: the infants abandoned at the wheel of the Esposti, hosted and cared for by the Real Casa dell’Annunziata.
The Madonna with worn shoes
On the upper floors of the Annunziata, guarded like a precious relic, is a 17th-century statue of the Madonna, depicted as a porcelain doll with delicate features. She wears a white dress adorned with golden threads and, an extraordinary detail, small golden shoes.
One fascinating element strikes visitors: the Madonna’s hair is real. It is said to be a gift from some women in the neighbourhood, in gratitude for a grace received.
But what makes this statue unique is the mystery that surrounds it: its shoes visibly wear away with the passage of time. The faithful interpret this phenomenon as a miraculous sign.
According to legend, every night the Virgin leaves the basilica to walk the alleys of Naples, bringing comfort and protection to her “children”. The soles would bear witness to this untiring pilgrimage of love.
The rite of changing slippers
On 25 March, Annunciation Day, a ritual full of faith and symbolism is renewed: the nuns of the Annunziata accompany the statue to church to change her slippers.
A simple but deeply touching gesture that strengthens the spiritual bond between the Madonna and the Neapolitan people.
The old, worn-out slippers are then given to families with seriously ill people, in the hope of obtaining a miraculous cure. If the grace is received, the slippers are returned to the nuns, ready to be donated to another family in need.
Faith beyond official recognition
Although the Catholic Church has never officially recognised the miracle of the worn slippers, popular devotion to Our Lady of the Annunciation remains alive and deep.
For many Neapolitans, that Madonnina continues to be a loving mother, capable of welcoming sorrows and hopes, and of giving comfort in the most difficult moments.
Faith beyond official recognition
Although the Catholic Church has never officially recognised the miracle of the worn shoes, popular devotion to Our Lady of the Annunciation remains alive and deep.
For many Neapolitans, that little Madonna continues to be a loving mother, capable of welcoming sorrows and hopes, and of giving comfort in the most difficult moments.
A heritage of stories and mysteries
The legend of the Madonna with the worn-out shoes is just one of the many that make the historic centre of Naples unique, a place where the sacred is constantly mixed with the profane, and popular faith is intertwined with centuries-old traditions. Walking through the alleys of Forcella, Spaccanapoli or San Gregorio Armeno, one breathes an atmosphere laden with symbols, stories and legends that have animated the city for centuries.
An emblematic example is Napoli Sotterranea, a fascinating world hidden beneath the urban surface, made up of Greco-Roman tunnels, World War II shelters and ancient cisterns. A journey underground that reveals how deeply layered the city is, not only in its architectural structure, but also in the collective memory of its inhabitants.