Tour of the places of the Neapolitan song

The Tour of the places of the Neapolitan song is an experience that combines cultural storytelling, music and urban heritage: a walking itinerary through historic and symbolic sites where the origins and evolution of Neapolitan music intertwine.

The tour begins in the historic centre, where street names, small squares, monuments and even the most hidden corners are linked to life stories and the lyrics of timeless songs. From the popular roots—ancient villanelle, the songs of the posteggiatori (traditional strolling musicians), and the rhythms of the tarantella—the narrative travels across eras and styles, reaching contemporary urban culture that blends tradition with new sounds.

Alleyways and piazzas that feel like songs
Walking along the streets that intersect the ancient decumani, you can imagine the verses of famous melodies such as ’O Sole Mio, Santa Lucia luntana or Simmo ’e Napule paisà taking shape among doorways, balconies and old fountains.

Storytelling enriched with music and history
The tour may include significant landmarks connected to major expressions of the Neapolitan song, exploring their historical and cultural context, the linguistic evolution of the musical dialect and its impact on subsequent generations of artists.

Corners where the song still lives today
This experience is often enhanced by live performances of Neapolitan pieces in evocative urban settings, where visitors can listen to melodies played on traditional instruments and sung by voices that recount stories of the sea, nostalgia and love.

1. Piazza del Gesù Nuovo
Why start here: a crossroads of history, music and spirituality, it is one of the city’s most evocative urban spaces. Here you can sense the echo of the first villanelle, popular polyphonic songs that resonated through courtyards and piazzas between the 16th and 17th centuries.
From here, the connection between folk song and urban space ideally begins.

2. Via Benedetto Croce (Spaccanapoli)
Why it matters: walking along Spaccanapoli means stepping inside a living musical staff. On every corner, verses of songs born in the bassi—ground-floor dwellings—echo between balconies and hanging laundry. Here, popular memory blends with musical folklore.
A particularly atmospheric spot for photographing views celebrated in song lyrics.

3. Via San Gregorio Armeno
Why include it: beyond being the famous street of nativity workshops, it is also one of the symbolic places of Christmas in Naples. Many traditional Neapolitan Christmas songs, such as Quanno nascette Ninno (a precursor to Tu scendi dalle stelle), have their popular roots here.
A stop that connects music, devotion and oral tradition.

4. Via dei Tribunali – Largo San Gaetano
Why it is central: this area is closely linked to the tradition of the Neapolitan posteggiatore, the street singer who performs classical songs accompanied by mandolin or guitar.
An ideal place to explore the street song as a form of popular musical theatre.

5. Piazza San Domenico Maggiore
An evocative stop: according to historical accounts, Salvatore Di Giacomo, author of classics such as Era de maggio and Marechiaro, often passed through here.
A perfect moment to read celebrated lyrics and reflect on the relationship between poetry and music.

6. Via Toledo – Gallerie d’Italia (Palazzo Zevallos)
Why it bridges music and the visual arts: this is home to Caravaggio’s The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula, and the area also hosts events dedicated to the Neapolitan song.
An opportunity to discuss the evolution of the song tradition between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

7. Teatro Trianon Viviani (exterior) – Forcella
Why it is the “Home of the Neapolitan Song”: today it is one of the few cultural venues entirely dedicated to telling the story of the classic Neapolitan song, from the 17th century to contemporary music.
The perfect final stop to reflect on the enduring vitality of the Neapolitan musical tradition today.