L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano T h e r e a r e m o m e n t s i n a c i t y ' s l i f e w h e n e v e n t s a l i g n i n w a y s t h a t a r e both symbolic and tangible. F o r N a p l e s , 2 0 2 5 h a s b e c o m e s u c h a y e a r . T h e southern Italian city, often defined by its contradictions – ancient yet restless, beau- tiful yet chaotic – is experi- encing a period of renewed attention and momentum. From celebrating 2,500 years since its founding, to winning another national soccer title, and preparing to host one of the world's most prestigious sailing competi- tions, Naples is fully owning the spotlight it's been placed under. What might appear as coincidence is, in fact, part of a broader story about a city reclaiming its role on the national and interna- tional stage. N a p l e s i s o n e o f t h e world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, as it was founded exactly 2,500 years a g o , a m i l e s t o n e t h a t brought renewed attention to its cultural vitality and international profile. The origins of Naples trace back to the 8th century BC, when Greek settlers established the colony of Parthenope o n t h e P i z z o f a l c o n e h i l l . Later, in the 6th century BC, they re-founded the settle- ment as Neápolis, or "New C i t y . " A k e y m e m b e r o f M a g n a G r a e c i a , N e á p o l i s maintained its Hellenistic identity even as it became part of the Roman Republic. It was a vital port and cul- tural hub, known for pre- serving its Greek language a n d c u s t o m s t h r o u g h t h e centuries, a legacy still visi- ble today in its urban struc- t u r e , d i a l e c t , a n d a r t i s t i c sensibilities. To celebrate this anniver- sary, the city launched the Napoli Millenaria pro- gram, featuring over 2,500 cultural events throughout the year: the official celebra- t i o n s b e g a n o n M a r c h 2 5 with a commemorative per- formance of Eduardo De Fil- ippo's Napoli Milionaria at t h e T e a t r o d i S a n C a r l o . Then, a city-wide Interna- tional Dance Day saw thou- sands gather in Piazza del Plebiscito for open-air per- formances, while the iconic Gay-Odin chocolate factory crafted a 350-kilogram East- e r e g g a d o r n e d w i t h t h e m y t h o l o g i c a l s i r e n Parthenope. J u s t w e e k s a f t e r t h e opening of the anniversary celebrations, Naples made headlines again when it was selected as the host of the 38th America's Cup, to b e h e l d i n s p r i n g a n d summer 2027. First con- tested in 1851, the America's Cup is the oldest interna- tional sporting trophy in the w o r l d a n d a p i n n a c l e o f competitive sailing, which pits the reigning champion against a challenger. Naples was chosen by current Cup holders Team New Zealand after a competitive interna- tional selection process. The Gulf of Naples will serve as the racing course, and the team bases will be located in t h e B a g n o l i d i s t r i c t , a p o s t - i n d u s t r i a l a r e a n o w undergoing major redevel- o p m e n t . T h e e v e n t i s expected to bring a signifi- cant economic boost, as well as attracting global atten- tion and reinforcing Naples' maritime heritage. While some participating teams have voiced concerns about t h e e v e n t ' s l o g i s t i c s a n d transparency, the Italian g o v e r n m e n t a n d l o c a l authorities have welcomed the opportunity with enthu- s i a s m , v i e w i n g i t a s a s p r i n g b o a r d f o r u r b a n renewal and international visibility. I n d e e d , t h i s n e w l y acquired moment of inter- n a t i o n a l v i s i b i l i t y m e e t s w i t h a b r o a d e r e c o n o m i c momentum that the city has b e e n b u i l d i n g i n r e c e n t y e a r s : N a p l e s h a s s e e n a consistent rise in tourism, with over 12 million passen- g e r s p a s s i n g t h r o u g h Capodichino International Airport in 2023 – a 13.5% i n c r e a s e f r o m t h e y e a r before, making it the busiest airport in Southern Italy. Hotel occupancy reached an a v e r a g e o f 7 8 % i n e a r l y 2023, driven by renewed interest in Naples as a cul- tural, historical, and culi- nary destination. The city is a l s o a g a t e w a y t o n e a r b y attractions like Pompeii, the A m a l f i C o a s t , a n d t h e islands of Capri and Ischia. Without a doubt, tourism has turned into one of the pillars of the local economy, supporting jobs in hospitali- ty, transport, food, and cul- t u r a l s e r v i c e s e v e n m o r e than it used to, if it's true t h a t , a c c o r d i n g t o r e c e n t estimates, the hospitality s e c t o r a l o n e c o n t r i b u t e s around 3.7% to the city's G D P . F o o d a n d w i n e tourism – a sector that grew by 12% nationally in 2024 – has also seen Naples rise as a leading city, thanks to its world-famous cuisine and growing international expo- sure. Always in 2024, Time Out named Naples the best city in the world for food, highlighting its combination of quality, affordability, and authentic local flavors. The city's rich food culture is e v i d e n t i n i t s t r a d i t i o n a l d i s h e s , f r o m t h e i c o n i c Margherita pizza to hearty pasta alla genovese, and sweet treats like sfogliatella and babà. An international culinary reputation that has been further supported by TasteAtlas, which ranked Naples as the top food city globally for 2025, its results b a s e d o n e x t e n s i v e d a t a , i n c l u d i n g o v e r 4 7 7 , 0 0 0 v a l i d f o o d r a t i n g s a c r o s s m o r e t h a n 1 7 , 0 0 0 c i t i e s . Both recognitions empha- size Naples' standout posi- tion in the global gastro- nomic landscape, but also o f f e r t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o a p p r e c i a t e h o w d e e p l y Naples' food scene is con- nected with its historical and cultural identity. Need- less to say, food is perhaps the thing Neapolitans are most proud of, because of how it holds within so much of their essence as a people. It would be wrong, how- ever, to deny that such posi- t i v e t r e n d s p r e s e n t c h a l - lenges, with over-tourism and gentrification emerging as real concerns; in this con- text, the importance of sus- GIULIA FRANCESCHINI Naples is having a moment – and it's about more than soccer A young Neapolitan celebrating her soccer team's recent win in the Serie A (Photo: Giuseppe Anello/Dreamstime) CONTINUED TO PAGE 14 LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE TRADITIONS

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