July 9, 2025, 4:09 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
A centuries-old mystery surrounding the final resting place of Vlad III—better known as Count Dracula—has gained new momentum. Researchers have deciphered an inscription in a church in Italy that points to a grave of the notorious Wallachian prince.
The focus of current investigations is the Santa Maria la Nova monastery complex in Naples as the grave of Dracula. As early as 2014, a grave in the Turbolo Chapel there piqued researchers’ interest because unusual symbols suggested a connection to Vlad III. Now, scientists have deciphered a mysterious inscription on the presumed tombstone. It contains references to a mourning text in honor of Vlad III, supporting the theory that has been discussed for years.
Deciphered Inscription Provides New Clues
The inscription was discovered in the Turbolo Chapel of Santa Maria la Nova in Naples and likely dates back to the 16th century. As the director of the monumental complex, Giuseppe Reale, explained to the Italian daily “Il Mattino,” it is interpreted as a funeral oration for Vlad III after initial examinations.
The discovery was reinforced by a research trip Reale took to Romania, where he was presented with the findings of an international research team. The inscription includes the name “Vlad” multiple times, which is associated with the historical figure of the prince.
Read also: The Romanian castle where Count Dracula is said to have lived
The Theory of a Dracula Grave in Naples
The idea that Dracula, or Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, was buried in Naples was first proposed in 2014. Italian historians–including the brothers Raffaele and Giandomenico Glinni–examined the grave of Matteo Ferrillo in the church’s cloister. Notable were decorative elements like a dragon and Egyptian symbols, which are unusual for Neapolitan noble graves of that time. The dragon could point to the Order of the Dragon, to which Vlad’s father also belonged.
Family Connection Through Maria Balsa
Maria Balsa, the daughter of Vlad III, plays a crucial role in the theory. She is said to have been brought to Naples as a child and adopted by a noble family there. Later, she married into the Ferrillo family. According to tradition, the Ottomans captured Vlad III, and he was later ransomed by Maria. After his death, she is said to have buried him in her father-in-law Matteo Ferrillo’s grave in the Turbolo Chapel.
Oldest map in the world shows location of ‘Noah’s Ark’
Scientific Debate Continues
The new findings support the theory of a grave in Naples, but a scientific consensus has yet to be reached. Romanian researchers continue to point to possible resting places in the Snagov or Comana monasteries near Bucharest (TRAVELBOOK reported). Nevertheless, the Italian theory gains further weight with the deciphered inscription.