The most iconic films shot in Naples

Naples, with its unmistakable charm and vibrant culture, has been the stage for some of the most iconic films in the history of cinema. The Neapolitan city is not just a backdrop, but becomes the protagonist, with its colours, music and people. Films such as ‘L’oro di Napoli’, directed by Vittorio De Sica, capture the essence of a life full of contrasts and stories steeped in passion. ‘Napoli Velata’, with its mysterious and fascinating atmosphere, explores the city through lenses of wonder and disquiet. We cannot forget ‘Miseria e nobiltà’ by Eduardo De Filippo, a comedy that reflects the soul of Naples, between laughter and reflections on the human condition. And again, ‘Operazione San Gennaro’, which offers a satire of Neapolitan society and its traditions. These are just some of the most iconic films of Naples, with scenes filmed in the city’s historic centre, just a stone’s throw from the Napoli Sotterranea. Thus, in this journey through Neapolitan cinema, we will explore how these films have immortalised the city, making it an icon not only in Italy, but throughout the world.

L’oro di Napoli (1954)

Based on the book of the same name by Giuseppe Marotta, ‘L’oro di Napoli’ is a masterpiece by the great director Vittorio De Sica. A 1954 episodic film that explores different stories of daily life in the vibrant Neapolitan city. The characters’ stories are intertwined with iconic locations, such as the San Gregorio Armeno street, known for its handcrafted nativity scenes, and the picturesque Gulf of Naples. The film manages to capture the authenticity of the Neapolitans and the extraordinary beauty of the city. Through a narrative that alternates between moments of joy and humiliation, the film paints a stark and fascinating picture of Neapolitan reality. The cast boasts illustrious names from Italian and international cinema, including Sophia Loren, Totò, Eduardo De Filippo and Vittorio De Sica himself.

Napoli Velata

This is a 2017 film by Ferzan Özpetek that explores a Naples suspended between superstition, magic and sensuality. The story revolves around Adriana, the protagonist of a passionate love affair and involved in a violent crime. Her tormented existence is reflected in the city, which becomes an extension of her thoughts and emotions. One of the most iconic scenes is the Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel, a sculpture that encapsulates the essence of the film, symbolising the mystery and beauty of life and death.

Miseria e Nobiltà

And among the city’s most iconic films – with scenes filmed in the city centre – the great Totò cannot be missing. ‘Miseria e Nobiltà’ (1954) is one of his most famous films, directed by Mario Mattoli and inspired by the play of the same name, also set in Naples in 1890. Totò plays Felice Sciosciammocca, a divorced man in financial difficulties, who lives with his son’s family and works as a scribe at the San Carlo Theatre. The film recounts the vicissitudes of both families, united by food shortages and the landlord’s incessant demands for rent payments.

Operazione San Gennaro

A 1966 film directed by Dino Risi, offering a satire of Neapolitan society and its traditions. The story revolves around a group of men who try to appropriate the famous treasure of San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples. Through a series of comic and paradoxical situations, the film highlights the hopes, aspirations and disillusions of the protagonists, reflecting on themes such as faith, corruption and economic despair. With a cast of extraordinary actors, including Totò and Nino Manfredi, ‘Operazione San Gennaro’ is a cinematic work that, by mixing comedy and social criticism, succeeds in recounting the soul of Naples in an incisive and unforgettable way.