Italy remains a profoundly superstitious country and there was uproar recently when a group of scientists queried a religious rite in Naples in which the dried blood of a saint beheaded in AD305 “miraculously” liquefies.

According to tradition, the transformation of the blood of San Gennaro, preserved in two phials, protects the city from disasters such as earthquakes or an eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Scepticism about this popular event on the religious calendar, held in Naples cathedral and witnessed by thousands of people every year, has been heard before.

Attempts to explode the myth about Naples’ much-loved patron saint has however, reignited the debate about science versus faith in Italy.

The debate happens all over the planet. At least, where folks have acquired enough education to challenge cultures sustained by ignorance.

The Padre Pio phenomenon has also been investigated. The monk from southern Italy was said to have lived with stigmata, the wounds suffered by Christ on the cross, for most of his life. He was also seen flying in the air, protecting his hometown from enemy bombings during the Second World War, and apparently had the gift of bi-location – the ability to be in two places at once. He was canonized in 2002.

“There are all these legends about this guy but when you look for proof, there is none,” says Mr Polidoro.

Cicap’s next project is to investigate crop circles, a new phenomenon in Italy in the past two years.

“They’re pretty simple at the moment, nothing like the ones you see in England. But I’m sure the people who are doing them here will catch up soon,” laughs Mr Polidoro.

At least the Italian Committee for Investigation of the Paranormal gets some press. As in the rest of Europe, diminishing supermarket religions have an equivalent reduction in political power. In the US — where 20% of our citizens believe the sun revolves around the Earth — it’s a bit more difficult.