THE PROJECT PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE NEAPOLIS 2500
MAY AND JUNE: NATO, UNESCO, AND RAI TAKE CENTER STAGE
As part of Neapolis 2500, on the initiative of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, Naples will host a meeting on May 26 and 27 of senior officials from the Atlantic Alliance and partner countries from the southern shore of the Mediterranean and the Gulf. Naples, home to a key NATO Command and the U.S. Sixth Fleet, once again confirms its role at the heart of dialogue on security dynamics, which are central to the stability and prosperity of the broader Mediterranean. Over 130 international guests from 48 countries and international organizations will take part in the two-day event, contributing to a shared reflection on the challenges and common threats on the Alliance’s southern flank.
UNESCO has chosen Naples for the first “Heritage Biennale” (June 5–6), an initiative aimed at promoting best international practices in the protection and integrated enhancement of tangible and intangible heritage. Scheduled events include an international conference featuring sector experts, workshops, and hands-on sessions designed to support networking among institutions, cultural operators, and other stakeholders. The Vesuvian area—home to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata—shares the same coastline as the city and islands of the Gulf of Naples, extraordinary custodians of an archaeological heritage, including underwater sites, that inspire a unique development vision on a global scale.
On June 12 and 13, the RAI Production Center in Naples will host the Abu RAI Day, a two-day event organized by RAI in collaboration with ABU (Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union). The event will welcome eighty representatives from public service broadcasters, commercial networks, and other media organizations from across the Asia-Pacific region to share models and technological innovations developed by European and Asian public broadcasters
JULY: THE DIFFUSIONI PROJECT IN ARMENIA
The first major international event representing Naples abroad will be the concert organized on July 24 in Yerevan, Armenia, where the Orchestra of the Teatro di San Carlo and soloists from the Belcanto Academy, conducted by Riccardo Frizza, will inaugurate the Diffusioni project. This artistic journey includes symphonic music, iconic opera arias from Italy’s lyrical tradition, Neapolitan theatre, and dance celebrating the timeless beauty of the city of Naples.
SEPTEMBER: BENEDETTO CROCE AND THE “INTERACTIVE” CITY TOPONYMY
The project draws inspiration from the studies and reflections of Benedetto Croce, aiming to reconstruct the history of Neapolitan toponymy between the 19th and 20th centuries by analyzing changes through an interactive city atlas. This will lead to the reconstruction of a true moral topography of the city, developed under Croce’s well-known motto: “Every history is always contemporary history.” The interactive atlas may prove especially effective in the current context, as recent tourism flows have brought profound social, economic, and anthropological transformations to the Neapolitan territory—particularly the historic center.
OCTOBER: THE MONTH OF MED DIALOGUES, AND BEYOND
The National Committee Neapolis 2500 has planned a major tribute to Totò, a city icon and one of the greatest figures in Italian theater and cinema. A 24-hour weekend celebration will be held from October 4 to 5, featuring 20 theater companies from the more than 200 active in the city. The event will take place at the Teatro di San Carlo, with screenings between performances showcasing cinematic portrayals of Naples. Naples will act as a muse, offering within the event moments of public-facing culture and storytelling, encouraging new pathways of peace, cooperation, and solidarity. Around these themes, the EBU International Week, the network of European public broadcasters, will also convene..
From October 20–24, Prix Italia, organized by RAI, will take place—the world’s oldest international competition dedicated to the best radio, television, and multimedia productions created by public and private broadcasters. With over one hundred global participants, the event will be a key opportunity to promote both internationally relevant scientific institutions from the region and its cultural expressions, gaining visibility that will extend beyond national borders.i.
DECEMBER: A SURPRISE AND… “NAPLES BEYOND NAPLES”
On December 21, the date conventionally recognized as “the birth of Naples”, a major evocation will take place, symbolically uniting Naples’ history with its future—an event that will be announced in the second half of the year.
Also in December, a volume published by Treccani will be presented, featuring a collection of around twenty essays written by leading national and international figures, offering a historical-reconstructive perspective on Naples’ past and highlighting elements of Neapolitan culture that have held significance for Europe and the world
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR: SPREADING CULTURE, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE
The program, curated by the National Committee Neapolis 2500, will also include a film series dedicated to Benedetto Croce, featuring Maestro Pupi Avati’s film Un Natale a casa Croce, which reconstructs the life and ideas of one of Italy’s greatest thinkers. This will be joined by the project La Linea della vita, weaving together Croce’s legacy with those of Vico and Bruno.
Among the city’s cultural landmarks, the Teatro di San Carlo, in collaboration with the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples, will host the Exhibition of Theatrical Costume Sketches—original drawings and sketches by master scenographers and costume designers, reinterpreted through a digital immersive experience enriched by augmented reality and interactivity.
Naples is not only a city of history, but also a city of science and innovation. The conference “Scientific Thought in Naples: a 2,500-Year Tradition”, along with various sessions held at local innovation hubs (IIT, InnovAction Hub, Agritech, Clinical/Drug Trial Center, Zoological Station), will welcome scientific attachés from embassies and help position Naples as a City of Open Innovation—a civic asset that also boasts numerous registered patents and a strong presence of companies investing in cutting-edge research.
Finally, the program includes initiatives that enhance the local territory: a musical journey combined with trekking and hiking experiences organized by the Vesuvius National Park Authority, and a project blending history and innovation at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, which will lead to the creation of an international training school. Other initiatives such as the Lumina Neapolis installation space will further enrich the cultural offering.