One of Napoli's most famous songwriters Pino Daniele wrote a song called "Napule È Mille Culure" which translates into "Napoli Is A Thousand Colours" a loving tribute to the city's fascinating contradictions.
Napoli is a city in constant motion, which surprises and amazes me every time. It is a city that smells of salt. It is chaotic and colourful. It is a criss cross of pedestrian alleys with cars and motorbikes speeding through them and old ladies sitting in front of their door step observing and commenting.
It is about the art of improvisation in order to survive while enjoying the good things life has to offer. Naples is a city that enchants, that surprises for its mysticism and its enigmas. It is history and art, but it is also a state of mind that envelops you and accompanies you through its streets and neighborhoods.
Napoli's biggest asset, however, is its people's kindness. Luckily I am married to a lovely Napolitano which means we get to spend Christmas with "la famiglia" (it's a big one) and I can take photographs to my heart's delight... in a thousand different colours!
Forza Napoli... where football is religion!
Food in Napoli is another very serious matter...
... as is meeting up with your 500 best friends for a pre-Christmas aperò!
Definitely on my shopping list!
Gli struffoli... a Neapolitan Christmas tradition made of deep fried dough balls bathed in a syrup of of honey and citrus rinds and decorated with coloured sprinkles and candied fruit.
It's just not Christmas in Naples without it.
Yeah, the metro is not on strike!
I have a soft spot for kitchy souvenirs
A typical Neapolitan scene
Diego is still omnipresent and widely adored!
Time for lunch in the sun... tutto azzuro!
Napule è ’nu paese curioso
è ’nu teatro antico, sempre apierto.
Ce nasce gente ca senza cuncierto
scenne p’ ’e strate e sape recità.
Nunn’è c’ ’o ffanno apposta; ma pe’ lloro
‘o panurama è ‘na scenografia,
‘o popolo è ’na bella cumpagnia,
l’elettricista è Dio ch’ ’e fa campà.
Ognuno fa na parte na macchietta
se sceglie o tip o n’omm a truccatura
L’intercalare, a camminatura
pe fa successo e pe se fa guarda.
(Eduardo De Filippo)
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