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Lights and Sounds of Naples, Four Days of New Year’s Events

It will be a four-day celebration, from December 29th to January 1st, following the ‘Naples City of Music’ project, catering to both the younger and older generations. The programming is aimed at highlighting various forms of entertainment, particularly musical.

Friday, December 29th

The event calendar kicks off with two moments of solidarity. First, Maestro Carlo Morelli will bring “La musica in carcere” (Music in Prison) with the band performing for the inmates of Poggioreale. The second event is dedicated to young patients at Santobono, who, in the afternoon (3:00 PM), will receive a visit from Mayor Gaetano Manfredi accompanied by artists Lele Blade, Lda, Francesco Cicchella, and Peppe Iodice.

Saturday, December 30th

Children’s New Year at Maschio Angioino: From 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, the castle will transform into a magical place for children with games, shows, and entertainment. In Piazza Plebiscito, starting at 8:00 PM, the focus will be on urban and rap music with various artists from the Neapolitan scene and beyond. The evening will open with the winners of the “Young Promises of City of Music” contest selected by a distinguished jury composed of Geolier, Luchè, and Chiummariello. Performances will include Plug, Lele Blade, MV Killa, Yung Snapp, Niko Beatz, Enzo Dong, NTO, Coco, LDA, Vale Lambo, Andrea Settembre, and closing the concert, the lady of Italian rap, Rose Villain, one of the protagonists of the upcoming Sanremo.

Sunday, December 31st

A grand show in Piazza Plebiscito awaits the midnight toast with the participation of many artists, comedians, and singers. Starting at 9:00 PM, on stage, Enzo Avitabile and i Bottari, The Kolors, Francesco Cicchella, Arisa, and Jimmy Sax will perform in an evening hosted by Peppe Iodice, Francesco Mastandrea, Francesco Procopio, and Daniele Decibel Bellini. Other great figures from the entertainment world, such as Gabriele Esposito, Erminio Sinni, and Ciro Giustiniani, will also warm up the audience. Young emerging comedians from a contest will also perform on stage.

December 31, 2023, from 11:30 PM to 6:00 AM ‘Naples changes track’:

At Colonna Spezzata in Piazza Vittoria, the new year will be celebrated with HISTORY 90+, an irresistible format launched by Drop dedicated to the fabulous 90s, featuring the unmistakable radio style of DJ Cerchietto and DJ sets by Danilo De Santo and Irene Ferrara, followed by vocalist Goldie Voice.

On the stage at Rotonda Diaz, the dance floor will be animated by the new generation of the Neapolitan club culture in collaboration with musical collectives Drop, Soul Express, and Bang! The protagonists of Nu Disco and Nu Funk made in Naples, including Marvin&Guy, Pellegrino, Fantasie Safari, Mario Bianco & Gabriele Del Prete, Vincenzo Curcio B2B Mugman, and Valerio Viglione, all DJs and musical producers from the Naples metropolitan area, will follow.

Monday, January 1st

At Colonna Spezzata from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, NAPOLI JAM SESSION. A concert/event curated by Max Jovine, bassist of 99 Posse, bringing together about thirty authors, artists, and musicians from the new Neapolitan music scene. Starting at 4:00 PM on January 1, 2024, an original and transversal musical blend will merge rhythms, sounds, and various languages produced in recent years under the shadow of Vesuvius. From the N’Arte collective band to Maestro Giuseppe Spinelli’s band, which will accompany the live performances of fifteen special guests: 1. Andrea Tartaglia; 2. Balbusea; 3. Veronica Simioli; 4. Antonio Marino; 5. N’Arte Collective; 6. Dario Sansone; 7. Francesco Di Bella; 8. Greg Rega; 9. Helen Tesfazghi; 10. Jovine; 11. Peppoh; 12. Simona Boo; 13. Zulù; 14. Fabiana Martone; 15. Vesuviano.

At the Basilica di San Domenico Maggiore, at 6:00 PM, the new year will begin with the traditional classical music concert paying tribute to Maestro Roberto De Simone ‘Natale a Napoli alla Corte di Carlo di Borbone’ (Christmas in Naples at the Court of Carlo di Borbone). The orchestra La Nuova Polifonia, conducted by Alessandro De Simone, and the vocal ensemble Ensemble Vocale di Napoli will perform the Christmas Motet “Quem vidistis pastores?” brought to light by Maestro Roberto De Simone. A Christmas musical moment that Naples has never given up since 1737, in the splendid setting of San Domenico Maggiore, and an important event not only for promoting local traditions but also for the history of European music and culture.

Best Souvenirs to Bring Home from Napoli

The historic center is the home to artisan craftsmen and traditional workshops, where you can find one-of-a-kind treasures at affordable prices and see how a number of specialty items are still made using traditional techniques passed down through the generations.

It is practically impossible to make an exhaustive list, you will be able to find tailor shops, handcrafted clothing, shoes, contemporary arts, jewelry, vintage items stores in a few meters. My advice is to explore the historic center, enter the courtyards of historic buildings, through the streets and find these gems.

Nativity Scenes

The most traditional of all Neapolitan crafts is the handmade nativity scene, an art form that dates back to the 1700s and that dominates holiday décor in all of southern Italy. The heart and soul of Naples’ nativity scene production is on Via San Gregorio Armeno, that is crowded on both sides with dozens of shops and stalls selling handmade nativity scene figurines, model houses, and props. You can find nativity scenes in all sizes and price ranges on sale.
Ferrigno – Via San Gregorio Armeno, 8
Capuano – Via San Gregorio Armeno, 28

Ceramics

Naples and the surrounding region of Campania have been known for their local ceramic production for centuries. If you love handpainted majolica ceramics, you can choose from an endless variety of techniques and styles, from the elegant porcelain from Capodimonte to the more rustic majolica from Vietri sul Mare. Choose from traditional designs or more contemporary and minimalist motifs.
Mac Bottega Di Ceramica – Via Nilo, 12
Ceramiche di Vietri – Via Domenico Capitelli, 8

Ties

One of the most prestigious arts in Naples is custom tailoring, which includes classic suits, shirts, and ties for men but also specialty items like wedding gowns, hats, and knits. You’ll find a number of landmark shops around Naples that carry a vast selection of high-end ties in pure silk.
Marinella Cravatte – Riviera di Chiaia, 287
Cravatteria Ulturale – Via Carlo Poerio, 115

Lucky Horns

You don’t have to be superstitious to delight in one of the most iconic symbols of Naples’ tradition and lore: the lucky horn, a charm known locally as the “curniciello”. This traditional amulet is in the shape of a hot pepper (or “corno” in Italian) and it is believed to ward off the evil eye. Browse the artisan workshops and jewelry stores in the historic center to choose a handmade version in ceramic or fine red coral.

Unique Musical Instruments

Neapolitan music is beloved the world over and has been an important part of the city’s history and culture for centuries. For music lovers, Naples is the perfect destination for exploring new traditional instruments – many made by hand – and even purchasing one to try at home. To explore the world of Neapolitan folk instruments, take a walk down Via San Sebastiano, known in Naples as “the musician street”.
Loveri S.r.l. Strumenti Musicali – Via San Sebastiano, 15

Leather goods

Wallet, purse, bag, belt or gloves. Neapolitan artisans are some best of Italian craftsmanship.
Scriptura Pelletteria – Via S. Sebastiano, 45

Design

Naples is also the protagonist of the Italian style. There are many shops in the city where you can buy unique interior design pieces.
Versione Luce – Via dei Tribunali, 279
Ferrari – Via Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra, 60/M

Retro Items

In Naples, in recent years, numerous “vintage” shops have opened. In these shops with retò furnishings it is possible to find clothing, objects and accessories from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Oblomova – Via S. Sebastiano, 20
Oggetti & Stampe d’Epoca – Via S. Giovanni Maggiore Pignatelli, 49
Baule Volante – Via San Biagio Dei Librai, 106

A Neapolitan Coffee Maker (and Coffee)

The final item that should be on your list of souvenirs to bring back from Naples is ideal for coffee lovers: a “cuccumella”, the traditional Neapolitan coffee pot made from aluminum and used on the stovetop. This timeless coffee pot is made up of a number of parts that fit together and together brew a perfect Neapolitan espresso. Be sure to pick up a package or two of ground Neapolitan espresso beans (Passalacqua is a local favorite), sold in grocery shops and coffee bars across the city.
Mexico – Piazza Dante, 86
Spina – Via Pignasecca, 62

SPECIAL

Here is the most special souvenir you can choose. My creation with the punch needle. Choose your shape, your design and I will create it for you during your stay in our apartment. A unique gift.
Melareca Handcrafted

Paul McCartney’s Freshen Up Tour Heads to Napoli!

THE ‘FRESHEN UP’ TOUR 2020
Paul announces live shows for 2020 as his highly acclaimed and unmissable Freshen Up tour prepares to take to the road again

10th June – Piazza Plebiscito, Naples, Italy

Having wrapped up the most recent leg of the tour with a sold-out show at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium in July, Paul has already performed 39 huge shows across 12 different countries since he launched the Freshen Up global tour.  Winning five-star reviews from critics and fans alike all over the world, the Freshen Up tour which draws in crowds of all ages and backgrounds, showcases Paul’s unparalleled career as both a phenomenal songwriter and performer that confirm his universal appeal. 

With songs like ‘Hey Jude’, ‘Live and Let Die’, ‘Band on the Run’ and  ‘Let It Be’ the Paul McCartney live experience is everything any music lover could ever want from a rock show: Nearly three hours of the greatest moments from the last 50 years of music, dozens of songs from Paul’s solo, Wings and of course Beatles catalogues that have formed the soundtracks of our lives.  Paul and his band have performed in an unparalleled range of venues and locations throughout the Americas, the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and all points between: outside the Coliseum in Rome, Moscow’s Red Square, Buckingham Palace, The White House, a free show in Mexico for over 400,000 people, the last ever show at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park where The Beatles played their final concert in 1966, a 2016 week in the California desert that included two headline sets at the historic Desert Trip festival and a jam-packed club gig  for a few hundred lucky fans at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, and even one performance broadcast live into Space! Featuring Paul’s band of the last 15+ years – Paul “Wix” Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums) – and constantly upgraded state of the art audio and video technology that ensures an unforgettable experience from every seat in the house, a Paul McCartney concert is never anything short of life-changing.

Pre-sale Information 
Pre-sale tickets will be available to purchase for the above Italy shows from 10am local time on Friday 22nd November. To purchase pre-sale tickets, click the link below and enter the password: 

10th June @ Piazza Plebiscito Naples 
GET PRE-SALE TICKETS HERE! / PASSWORD: FRESHENUPNAPOLI

THINGS TO DO IN NAPLES IN DECEMBER

We are in December. December means Christmas, holidays, presents and sitting under the tree. But these aren’t the only things to do in December. Let’s find out some of the best events for this month.

HERE SOME EXHIBITIONS YOU CAN’T MISS IN DECEMBER

LONDON SHADOW. LA RIVOLUZIONE INGLESE DA GILBERT & GEORGE A DAMIEN HIRST

19/10/18 – 20/01/19The London Shadow exhibition recounts, through twenty-three works, the spirit of artistic renewal that began in Great Britain  (YBAYoung British Artists) in the late eighties and early nineties. At the end of the decade, these young artists finally glimpsed the possibility of breaking with the “old” generation imposing signs, messages and new expressive codes. Leader of the movement is Damien Hirst.

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EXPANDED INTERIORS

14/07/18 – 15/01/19Expanded Interiors explores ancient Roman wall paintings and Roman artefacts through fine-art practice at the two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The project will develop site-specific fine art installations within two distinct architectural contexts: the House of the Cryptoporticus, in Pompeii, and the House of the Beautiful Courtyard, in Herculaneum. Expanded Interiors is planned by Newcastle University and brings together an experienced team from contemporary art, archaeology and digital technology.

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AN EXHIBITION FOR OLIMPIO GRECO

13/10/18 – 29/12/18. The retrospective exhibition dedicated to the Sicilian futurist and photographer Olimpio Greco, also called Grecolio. The exhibition, curated by Viktor Grobheiten, will present photos taken between 1919 and 1925. As Grobheiten says: maybe it’s time to shed light on Italian futurism artists, who didn’t have the visibility and the success they deserved. And it is certainly the case of Grecolio, a great interpreter of photodynamism.

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JEAN LOUP CHAMPION EXHIBITION

18/10/18 – 11/01/19The Mapils Gallery presents Bianchi i giorni che sovrastano le notti, from Jean Loup Champion. Jean-Loup offers an unpublished production realized in the last few years. The trauma caused by three consecutive liver transplants, made him discover, and then express, another body and another world, white and three – dimensional. In 2017, Jean-Loup Champion worked on a new series of works entitled Monumenti. These works refer to the Baroque funerary monuments of Naples and the Cy Twombly white sculptures. Made in wood and various materials, they are always painted in white.

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IL FUTURISMO (FUTURISM)

19/10/18 – 17/02/19. Works by BoccioniBallaCarràSeverini. Sixty-four masterpieces take us to the first and most important vanguard European Futurism of the early 1900s.

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KLIMT EXPERIENCE

20/10/18 – 03/02/19Klimt Experience is an immersive and multimedia journey dedicated to the life and works of Gustav Klimt. The main purpose is to thrill and fascinate the spectators, inviting them to deepen the knowledge of the man and artist and the understanding of his works. A multimedia jump in Klimt’s art and history. The exhibition includes the biography told by the monitors of the visual room, a magical kaleidoscope with signs and images projected on walls and ceilings in the hall of mirrorsvirtual reality with the Oculus VR. A different way to approach art, a dreamlike journey.

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PRESENZE ASSENZE 1978-2018

13/12/18 – 21/02/19. Peppe Esposito on show with his personal Presenze Assenze 1978 – 2018. 50 images between black and white photos and color portraits on display at the Private Baker Fideuram offices. A visual tale of Napoli, an ideal metropolis immortalized by the photographic eye of Esposito that conquers bodies and spaces, revealing the city’s many identities and its transformations, from 1978 to today.

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I DE FILIPPO. IL MESTIERE IN SCENA

8/11/18 – 24/04/19. Thanks to unpublished material, letters, photos, videos, costumes, posters, manuscripts and typescripts, this exhibition shows up like a some kind of dialogue between the De Filippo family and the public. People will meet Eduardo through the movies, through the poems, through the songs, will live his strength, his rigor, the importance that the theatre and the audience had for him and that took him not to stop even when life was terribly tough with him.

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ESCHER

01/11/18 – 22/04/19Palazzo delle Arti di Napoli will house the works of Maurits Cornelis Escher, one of the world’s most famous graphic artists. There will also be a large section dedicated to the influence that his work have had on subsequent generations: discs, comics, advertising, movies. A big journey through 200 works, from Escher to the present day.

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HERE SOME EVENTS YOU CAN’T MISS IN DECEMBER

DINOSAURI IN CARNE E OSSA (DINOSAURS IN FLESH AND BLOOD)

12/11/18 – 09/03/19. Dinosaurs are back, and they and they have established themselves at the. Astroni Crater, an extinct volcano just 5 km from Naples. It is a unique experience that helps us to reflect on a question: can you survive a mass extinction? A small group of survivors gave life to different species of animals, that have dominated the earth. Extinction is part of evolution, but over the past 350 years, our actions have placed the planet at risk of a new mass extinction. The exhibition tells the history of life, from Paleozoic till the present day.

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BRIKMANIA, UN MONDO DI MATTONCINI (A WORLD OF BRICKS)

13/10/18 – 27/01/19. The world’s biggest exhibition of Lego is here. 2 million of bricks, with vintage cars, pirate galleons and the Star Wars saga and an area with a pool full of bricks where children can play.

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I VENERDÌ DEL TAIJIQUAN (TAIJIQUAN FRIDAYS)

24/10/18 – 05/05/19Taijiquan is a Chinese fighting technique suitable for everyone and is based on a harmonious balance between body and mind, restoring the energy flow and psychophysical well-being.

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NATALE AL CASTELLO DI LETTERE (CHRISTMAS AT LETTERE CASTLE)

10/11/18 – 06/01/19. In the wonderful Archaeological park in Castello di Lettere, it will take place Natale al Castello. The Castle will be set up according to a traditional Christmas Market. The event, is the favourite destination for adults and children who spend a very special moment during the holidays, between tradition, games and typical tastings. With kiosks in which artisans, masters of the Neapolitan manger, producers and farms, will propose their creations.

MERCATINI AL CASTELLO DI OTTAVIANO (MARKETS AT THE OTTAVIANO CASTLE)

01/12/18 – 16/12/18. More than 100 exhibitors at the Mediceo Castle, organized in typical wooden houses, will offer a wide range of products. Christmas lights, artists, concerts, choirs and shows are the perfect setting for this typical Christmas atmosphere.

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MERCATINI DI NATALE 2018 (CHRISTMAS MARKETS 2018)

02/12/18 – 21/12/18. The National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa will be transformed into the city of the Christmas, giving visitors unforgettable emotions. If you visit the markets you can freely access and visit the National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa. Children can visit the house of Santa Claus, view the locomotives of the Polar Express, meeting characters from fairy tales and listening tales like Snow WhitePinocchio and The Pied Piper.

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CHRISTMAS IN THE MIDDLE AGES

10/12/18 – 24/12/18. For 14 days Borgo Martucci will turn into a historical road. Take a leap into the past and experience history in an original way. Ladies, knights, jugglers and minstrels, let yourself be guided towards the magic.

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HERE SOME THEATRICAL SHOWS YOU CAN’T MISS IN DECEMBER

MADE IN CHINA POSTCARDS FROM VAN GOGH

04/12/18 – 09/12/18. An original comparison between Van Gogh, the artistic genius, and China, the serial reproduction for commercial purposes. A very original show in which the reference made in China, suggests food for thought on contemporary society.

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POKER

07/12/18 – 09/12/18. A restaurant, the owner, his son, two waiters and the cook. Every Sunday after the closing, they go to the basement of the club to play poker all the night. This routine is broken by the arrival on the scene of a mysterious character. A character that brings to the life of the protagonists imbalance and curiosity, adding suspense to the developments of the story and, above all, to the game that will be played.

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COUS COUS KLAN

07/12/18 – 16/12/18. In a near future, the water is privatized and the rivers are guarded by the government guards. In an abandoned parking lot there is a homeless community, frayed by anger and conflict. Aldo and Nina, a rebellious and unpredictable girl, who will prove to be the biggest of their problems and, at the same time, the key to a social redemption, will be part of the community.

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AVEVO UN BEL PALLONE ROSSO (I HAD A BEAUTIFUL RED BALLOON)

11/12/18 – 16/12/18. Margherita is a young Catholic girl who, after moving to Milan, in a few years becomes “Mara”, leader of the Red Brigades. The show, through the conversations between her and her father, tells the story of Margherita and outlines the intimate and dramatic relationship between father and daughter, which mixes with the history of Italy.

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LE HO MAI RACCONTATO DEL VENTO DEL NORD

12/12/18 – 16/12/18. A wrong e-mail address, triggers a spark between 2 strangers. Based on the book by Daniel Glattauer, with millions of copies sold all over the world, the show describes the birth of an intense and virtual bond. Can a relationship of this kind survive to a real meeting?

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NEW MAGIC PEOPLE SHOW

14/12/18 – 16/12/18. In 2007, with Magic People Show, Giuseppe Montesano told the global consumer, the average human being, the slave of the advertising, and then, national economy healers, air to breathe sellers, souls sellers and buyers. Ten years later a new version of the show, which mixes opera buffs and drama, made up of ridiculous monsters drugged by the dream of money, of deluded prisoners of being free and people who have buried passion and love. A new tragicomic chapter of the sick Italy.

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GHOST TOUR. GHOSTS IN NAPLES

09/11/18 – 30/12/18. Do you believe in paranormal activities? With this tour, the De Rebus Neapolis, which represents the Paranormal Research and Analysis Center in Naples, will explore the results of a surprising survey in the alleys of the ancient center of Naples. This tour will provide some precious knowledge to all those who want to approach to the paranormal. The purpose is to make contact with the occult.

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ANGELI E DEMONI. A TOUR IN THE MOST MYSTERIOUS CHURCHES IN NAPLES

16/11/18 – 28/12/18. The history, the anecdotes, the curiosities about the three churches of mystery: Church of Gesù Nuovo, Basilica of San Domenico Maggiore and the Basilica of Santa Chiara. Ghosts, angels and other entities, a walk that will tell the miracles, the mysteries and the paranormal. Every corner and every facade of these churches carries a hidden history.

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HERE SOME CONCERTS YOU CAN’T MISS IN DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS CONCERT WITH THE 3 TENORS

08/12/18 – 29/12/18. In the wonderful Filangieri museum, a work inspired by the concert La traviata, from Luciano PavarottiJosé Carreras and Placido Domingo. Between the great Italian opera and the Neapolitan tradition, and speaking of Neapolitan tradition, O’ Sole mio and Torna a Surriento, are just a couple of the songs in which the tenors protagonists of this evening will challenge themselves.   

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CHRISTMAS CONCERT

22/12/18. Orchestra of the San Carlo Theatre, with the participation of the Sanitansamble Orchestra.

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THE NUTCRACKER

29/12/18 – 05/12/18. The famous ballet adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

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