“WE ARE PARTENOPE”: A MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITION HONORING NAPLES AND ITS VISIONARY WOMEN, 20–24 OCTOBER AT THE ROYAL PALACE
As part of the 77th edition of the Prix Italia, a special multimedia exhibition will celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of Naples through the eyes and voices of extraordinary Neapolitan women: Matilde Serao, Elvira Notari, Concetta Barra, Sophia Loren, Elena Ferrante, and many others.
This year, the Prix Italia, the international competition for Rai broadcasters, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the National Committee Neapolis 2500, chooses the heart of the Mediterranean to mark this extraordinary milestone: 2,500 years since the founding of Naples, the “new city” born—according to legend—from the body of the siren Partenope, washed ashore by the waves. Partenope, suspended between myth and revelation, is the spark that ignites the “We Are Partenope” exhibition, curated by Marina Polla de Luca and held from 20 to 24 October at the Royal Palace of Naples, in collaboration with the Scuola Italiana di Comix directed by Mario Punzo.
“Prix Italia thrives on cross-pollination, the exchange of ideas and creativity from around the world, as well as from the territories that host it each year. This exhibition is a tribute and a thank-you to Naples, projected into the future, through the voices of women who continue to inspire us,” emphasizes Chiara Longo Bifano, Secretary-General of the event.
“We Are Partenope” is an immersive journey through voice, image, and memory, where myth meets contemporary art to reveal Naples’ kaleidoscopic and international identity—a city constantly dialoguing between past and future. Conceived as a collective homage to female creative power, the exhibition tells the story of Naples through the eyes and voices of extraordinary “Neapolitan women”, sirens and muses who have transformed communication into art and art into an act of love for the city.
“The exhibition ‘We Are Partenope’ honors Naples’ creative strength. It invites visitors to recognize the city’s unique traits as a muse, capable of inspiring, welcoming, and regenerating, transforming emotions into language and stories of the future. The exhibition perfectly aligns with the mission of the National Committee Neapolis 2500, which is not only to celebrate this milestone but also to project an authentic legacy for new generations. The stories of these women and the works of the artists involved are extraordinary testimony to the intrinsic power this city can radiate,” explains Maria Luisa Faraone Mennella, entrepreneur and member of the National Committee Neapolis 2500.
From the pioneering voices of Matilde Serao and Elvira Notari, to the maritime-inspired voice of Ria Rosa, the legendary Concetta Barra with her Gatta Cenerentola, the iconic Sophia Loren, and the enigmatic Elena Ferrante, whose Lila embodies the city’s contradictory and vital strength—thirteen contemporary visionary artists amplify Partenope’s voice through video art, sound, installations, and performances. The exhibition creates an immersive experience in which every visitor is invited to reconnect with the myth. Materials used include Light Boxes, Painted Canvases, Wood, Plexiglass, and Opal, while original music by composer “The Lost” (Leonardo Polla) provides a soundtrack for the entire journey.
“We Are Partenope” is more than an exhibition: it is a collective journey into the soul of Naples, where the song of the sirens becomes a creative language and a tool for social expression—a tribute to the women who have told the city’s story, making it eternal and ever new.
Artists and Works in “We Are Partenope”
Barbara Ciardo – Sirena Partenope
Marino Guarnieri – Giulia Civita Franceschi
Alessandro Rak – Adriana Basile
Daniele Bigliardo – Titina DeFilippo
Fabiana Fiengo – Ria Rosa
Alessandra Vitelli – Elena Ferrante
Valentina Galluccio – Elvira Notari
Arianna Pennacchio – Gilda Mignonette
Alessia Vivenzio – Sophia Loren
Mario Testa Teresa – Filangieri Ravaschieri
Andrea Scoppetta – Tina Pica
Mario Teodosio – Matilde Serao
Barbara Ansaldi – Concetta Barra