In Naples, there's a square no one can cross blindfolded: find out why

Have you ever heard of a trial in which absolutely no one is successful? In Naples, there's a challenge that seems very simple, but really gets everyone into trouble. It involves crossing Piazza del Plebiscito blindfolded, from the Royal Palace straight to the two equestrian statues in the middle of the square. Sounds easy, right? And yet it always goes wrong.

The equestrian statues in the center of the square

In the middle of the square are two imposing monuments: the equestrian statues of Charles III of Bourbon and his son Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. They were sculpted by Antonio Canova and today form the end of this impossible trial. The distance from the palace seems manageable, the square is open and free of obstacles. And yet whoever tries to walk to it with a blindfold never ends up in the right place, but always somewhere else.

The story of Queen Margherita

Behind this oddity is a legend. It is said that Queen Margherita had made a promise to the prisoners: whoever managed to cross the square blindfolded would regain his or her freedom. But no prisoner ever succeeded. According to popular belief, the Queen had put a curse on the square to ensure that no one would actually win the challenge. A compelling story that to this day adds to the mysterious atmosphere of this place.

Why no one succeeds in this task

The truth is less romantic, but a lot more concrete. Piazza del Plebiscito is huge, some 25,000 square meters of empty space with no visual reference points. If you take away someone's sight, the human body becomes totally disoriented. Moreover, the square has a slight slope that no one notices when walking normally, but causes one to veer off course once blindfolded. The result? Walking crookedly without realizing it. Some deviate to the right, others to the left, but walking dead straight is practically impossible.

The 'talking' statues of the Royal Palace

The facade of the Royal Palace features eight statues in niches, each representing a monarch who ruled Naples. The Neapolitans have devised a funny little story about the last four. Charles V of Habsburg points his finger down, as if to say, "Who peed here?" Charles III raises his hands: "It wasn't me," Joachim Murat taps his chest and admits, "It was me, so what?" And Victor Emanuel II draws his sword to punish him. A vernacular find that makes these marble sovereigns just a little more human and sympathetic.

Piazza del Plebiscito awes you as soon as you arrive. The vast space, the colonnade, the palace, the statues. It's one of those places where you stop for a moment to look around and wonder how they ever managed to build something so grand and beautiful. The legends add to the charm, but the square doesn't need made-up stories to win you over. Standing there and looking around is simply enough.

(MP/©GreenMe.It/translation and adaptation: The Global Lifestyle/Illustration: Yahya Momtaz via Unsplash)