ICONS OF POPULAR CULTURE
1.Pulcinella
Cunning, perpetually hungry and rambunctious, Pulcinella (Little Chicken) is the symbol of Neapolitans and their streetwise way of life. His signature white pyjama-like outfit, peaked hat and hook-nosed mask go back to ancient Roman burlesque, in which a bawdy clown, Macchus, was one of the stock characters. He is the prototype of Punch and similar anarchic puppets around the world.
Pulcinella figurines, Naples
2.Presepi
The tradition of creating sculpted tableaux of Christ’s birth (presepi) has risen to a high art in Naples ever since the 1700s. Many sculptors create scenes that expand far beyond the central event and include features of everyday life – Pulcinella might be represented slapping the current mayor, for example.
3.Sophia Loren
An indefatigable love goddess since her star began to rise in 1957 in L’Oro di Napoli (The Gold of Naples), “La Loren” went on to become a Hollywood star.
Sophia Loren
4.Scugnizzi and Lazzaroni
These two characters, products of the poverty the city has historically suffered, are street urchins and ruffians. Both have been heavily romanticized by outsiders, yet their sly wisdom and wit are traits all Neapolitans seem to aspire to.
5.Neapolitan Song
Naples has always been known as a city of music, with songs focusing nostalgically on love, the sun and the sea. O’ Sole Mio and Santa Lucia are the most renowned.
6.Totò
This rubber-faced comedian was the quintessence of Italian humour. Until his death in 1967, “The Prince of Laughter” made five films a year, some of them comic masterpieces, including Un Turco Napoletano (A Neapolitan Turk, 1953).
Un Turco Napoletano, starring Totò
7.Pino Daniele
Known as the voice of Naples, Pino Daniele was one of Italy’s most popular singer-songwriters. He was known abroad for his songs Quando and Je so pazz. After his death, a street in Naples was named in his honour.
8.Massimo Troisi
Embodying the heart of the Neapolitan character, this actor made international waves with Il Postino (The Postman), nominated for an Academy Award in 1995. Sadly, after the film was completed, Troisi died at the age of 41.
Massimo Troisi
9.Naples in the Movies
Greats of the golden age of Italian cinema all felt inspired to communicate their impressions of Naples. Notable films include Roberto Rossellini’s Viaggio in Italia (1954) and Francesco Rossi’s Mani Sulla Città (1963).
10.Recent International Films
Naples and the coast have provided the setting for films as diverse as the fifth Star Wars instalment, which used the Royal Palace at Caserta for the queen’s abode, and Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr Ripley, some scenes of which were shot on the islands of Procida and Ischia.
A scene from The Talented Mr Ripley
TOP 10 OPERA LEGENDS
1.Teatro San Carlo
The oldest continuously working opera theatre in Europe is a UNESCO World Heritage site (for further details see Teatro San Carlo).
2.Inauguration
On 4 November 1737 the San Carlo was inaugurated with Metastasio’s opera Achille in Sciro.
3.Castrati
An 18th-century Neapolitan speciality, renowned castrati included Farinelli (Carlo Broschi) and Gian Battista Velluti.
4.Fire
A February 1816 fire destroyed the San Carlo. In a few months the theatre had been rebuilt with perfect acoustics.
5.Ballet
San Carlo shares with La Scala the record for the first Italian ballet school (1812).
6.Gioacchino Rossini
The composer was artistic director of the opera house between 1815 and 1822.
7.Gaetano Donizetti
Donizetti composed 16 operas for the San Carlo.
Gaetano Donizetti
8.Vincenzo Bellini
In 1826 Bellini staged his first work at the San Carlo, Bianca e Gerlando.
9.Giuseppe Verdi
The “god” of Italian opera wrote his first opera for the theatre, Alzira, in 1845.
10.Enrico Caruso
Arguably the most famous tenor ever, Caruso was born in Naples in 1873.
