Cala Trentaremi Gaiola , Naples

Ancient Urban Legends of Naples
Nisida and Posillipo: Divine Punishment for a Heart of Ice

NAPLES – The topography of the Gulf of Naples conceals stories of unrequited passions and divine punishments. One of the most emblematic is the myth of Nisida, a young woman of extraordinary beauty, whose beauty was matched only by her callousness.

Her fame attracted the attention of Posillipo, a young man who professed his total and devoted love for her. Yet, Nisida met her dedication with a constant and icy refusal.

That denial was so cruel that it forever broke Posillipo’s heart. The young man, overcome by anguish, died consumed by grief. Fate, moved by compassion, then chose to transform him: his shape became the promontory of the same name, from which the gaze can now wander, free, forever.

For Nisida, however, the same mercy was not forthcoming. Jupiter, outraged by her cruelty and ruthless nature, decreed an exemplary punishment for her. He transformed her into the small island of Nisida, condemning her to remain forever a solitary and uninhabited rock.

Even today, to anyone who walks the coast, that silent dialogue is evident: the Posillipo promontory still seems to watch over the small island. An eternal reminder of a scorned love and a solitude that was a just punishment.