Great success for the episode of "Tonight in… Naples" that Alberto Angela dedicated to our city. showing wonderful places more or less known to the general public, but also to the Neapolitans themselves.
It was a magical and intense episode, which has totally immersed us in the incredible beauty of Naples, showing it to us especially in the hours ranging from sunset to late evening, in a suggestive and bewitching atmosphere.
To act as companions to Alberto Angela also of the famous ciceroni, first of all the great actor Giancarlo Giannini who personified King Charles of Bourbon.
Naples is above all light: a finally different story
With this episode of Tonight at… we tried to illuminate Naples with the light it deserves, also thanks to the magic that this special evening is able to transmit. Often, in fact, the chronicles tend to focus on its shadows, which we do not intend to ignore, which must be identified and fought. But Naples is not just this. Naples is above all light. And it is this very light that we want to shine tonight, just like we did for other cities.
These words of Alberto Angela, who introduced the episode, are enough to make us understand that our great popularizer really has wanted to "illuminate" Naples by showing it to us in a different guise.
While not forgetting that the shadows are not few and that the aim of the episode was not to pretend that they are not there, the lights that Naples itself emanates and which in turn serve to show it to the world they are too often forgotten.
And Naples is above all light, as Angela himself repeated several times, who managed in an incredible way to show us this splendid light.
The soundtrack: the classics of the Neapolitan song
Accompanying each scene of the documentary have always been the classic Neapolitan songs, a precise choice of Alberto Angela and his team. What better soundtrack to tell, even in music, what the popularizer told us in words in over two hours of documentary.
Not just songs by late 800th-early 900th century, however, because we could also hear the notes of the inevitable Pino Daniele and of other contemporary artists.
The places of Tonight in Naples
Alberto Angela started and ended his tour in Naples in Piazza del Plebiscito, crossing many other places. However, before starting the actual tour, introduces us to the city telling us about his birth between legend and history.
Castel dell'Ovo and the legend of the Parthenope Siren
The opening scene of the documentary shows us a beautiful panorama from the sea of the Gulf to arrive on the terraces of the Castel dell'Ovo from which Alberto Angela admires the city. With great appreciation and a lot of passion that oozes from his words, he tells us about the birth of Naples, according to the legend: it is said that on the islet of Megaride, where the Castel dell'Ovo now stands, the Mermaid Partenope who gave the name to the first nucleus of the city, founding it. Partenope was one of the sirens rejected by Ulysses and who decided to commit suicide on the rocks precisely because of this refusal.
The non-mythological story about the birth of Naples, on the other hand, concerns the Cumans. The first foundation took place on the coast of Cuma, but part of the Greeks, who then moved towards the coasts up to the present Castel dell'Ovo, founding Neapolis, “The new city”, precisely Naples.
Piazza del Plebiscito and the basilica of San Francesco di Paola
In the majestic Piazza del Plebiscito, Angela also showed us theimposing basilica of San Francesco di Paola, one of the most important examples of neoclassical architecture in our country.
It was commissioned by King Ferdinand I as a thank you for the saint who would intercede for him by making him return to the throne of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
The beautiful basilica is completed by a large and long portico.
The Royal Palace
On the opposite side of the basilica, also in Piazza del Plebiscito, stands the wonderful Royal Palace of Naples. It was there residence of the Spanish viceroys and also of the Bourbons. Outside there are also the 8 statues of the Kings of Naples starting from Roger II the Norman up to Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy.
Inside, Angela could not fail to show us the splendid royal staircase, large, impressive and wonderful. Entering, we crossed the halls with him until we reached the throne on which the various sovereigns sat.
The San Carlo Theater
A visit to the San Carlo Theater could not be missed. IS one of the oldest in Europe and he was also a model for the other most important European theaters. Royal and World Heritage Site, it has 5 tiers of boxes, a gallery and also the famous royal box from which the kings admired the works on the stage.
The Cloister of Santa Chiara
A visit to the fantastic Cloister of Santa Chiara made us immerse in perfect union between the true and real nature of the place and the fake nature, but beautiful, of the colored majolica of the columns and benches. An incredible work of art.
In this place, the guest Massimo Ranieri interpreted the beautiful “Monastero 'e Santa Chiara”.
Sansevero Chapel and Veiled Christ
What can I say, the visit to the Sansevero Chapel was really exciting: Alberto Angela described to us with passion and great involvement the beautiful statues in the museum, including the Veiled Christ. A'"mysterious" work and unique in the world. The love for art and beauty was palpable.
The Sansevero Chapel is a must, a jewel of the city.
The Cathedral and the Treasure of San Gennaro
Also incredible is the visit to the Duomo, a building that actually incorporates two other basilicas previously present: the Basilica of Santa Restituta and that of San Giovanni in Fonte.
Right next to the Duomo there is the Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro and Albero Angela had access to the famous Mitra and Necklace of the Saint, showing us its richness. Two unique jewels in the world characterized by thousands of jewels and whose value can now be said to be inestimable.
The Museum and the Wood of Capodimonte
Inside the Capodimonte Museum, we were able to admire some masterpieces present, above all The Fall of the Giants, "The most ambitious work ever made by the Royal Porcelain Factory of Naples"
The Catacombs of San Gennaro
They are one of the oldest underground cemeteries in Naples and are one of the most important monuments of Christianity. Thanks to the work of the La Paranza Cooperative, they have been redeveloped for several years and can be visited discovering its beauties and historical testimonies. There is the tomb of San Gennaro inside them, but without the bones or relics of the saint, and there is also a beautiful ambulatory dedicated to the saint.
San Gregorio Armeno
Of course, also a walk in via dei Presepi, San Gregorio Armeno, could not be missed. In the silence of the night, without the chaos of the thousands of tourists that are there during the day, it seems an even more magical place. It was a walk among the classic shepherds and more modern ones which have long since become an attraction of the shops and which represent famous people such as singers, actors, footballers, presenters and much more.
The Health District
On this occasion he accompanied us Marisa Laurito which has entered the magnificent Palazzo dello Spagnuolo with its now iconic staircase. Inside it was also shot Thus spoke Bellavista by Luciano de Crescenzo.
Church of Santa Luciella and the skull with ears
A little known place who visited Alberto Angela is the Church of Santa Luciella which is located in the historic center, in San Biagio dei Librai, behind via San Gregorio Armeno. It is currently entrusted to the Cultural Association Respiriamo Arte on loan for use and in past centuries it was taken into custody by the piperners, those who worked the piperno. It remained abandoned for many years, but thanks to the Association it was recovered. Inside there are the skulls, the capuzzelle to whom the faithful ask for favors through prayers. There's a famous skull, skull with ears which, due to its conformation, seems to have ears. The Neapolitans address it with prayers.
Maradona Stadium in Fuorigrotta
Alberto Angela also went inside the Maradona Stadium in Fuorigrotta, in the company of Salvatore Bagni, former footballer of the Napoli team, recalling the champion Diego Armando Maradona.
Palazzo Serra di Cassano: the curiosity about the closed door
It was owned by a noble family of Genoese origins and among its peculiarities is the entrance door closed since 1799. It was closed as a protest for the death of the son of Prince Serra di Cassano, Gennaro, who was killed during the riots of the Neapolitan Republic.
Certosa di San Martino and the Cuciniello Nativity
Near the Castel Sant'Elmo there is the Certosa di San Martino, one of the most beautiful baroque complexes in the city. It preserves the Cuciniello Nativity whose name derives from the collector who wanted to donate his many shepherds to the State and who personally set it up. It's really great and it opened in 1879.
On the other hand, always in the Certosa, there is one of the smallest nativity scenes in the world because it is made in an egg shell. To admire it you need a kind of magnifying glass.
Bourbon Gallery
From an entrance of Palazzo Serra di Cassano you arrive at the Galleria Borbonica, one of the many places in underground Naples. It starts from below the Pizzofalcone hill and was created at the behest of Ferdinand II of Bourbon. During World War II it was used as a shelter by the Neapolitan population and, subsequently, as a judicial warehouse. Inside there are still cars and Vespas from the 40s, 50s and 60s that photograph moments. They take us back to the activities of the citizens of the time and to a world both distant and close to us.
Alberto Angela's guests
As mentioned, some guests accompanied Alberto Angela on this beautiful journey:
- Giancarlo Giannini played King Charles of Bourbon and told us about his magnificent works created during the reign;
- Massimo sang the beautiful “Monastero 'e Santa Chiara” in the Cloister of the Church of Santa Chiara and told Albero Angela the importance of the Neapolitan song;
- Marisa Laurito, in an apartment in the Palazzo dello Spagnuolo, told us about past Christmases spent in the city;
- Serena Rossi, singing “'Na tazzulella e cafè” by Pino Daniele, spoke to us about the importance of coffee in Napoil;
- Serena Autieri, in an atmosphere that evoked the ancient Cafè Chantant of the Salone Margherita, interpreted some classic songs
- Salvatore Bagni, former football player of Calcio Napoli, told us about the great Maradona.
Cover photo source: Barbara Ledda
Internal photo source: Alberto Angela Facebook page
