May
Event: Maggio dei monumenti (Monuments of May)
www.napolioggi.it
www.comune.napoli.it
In May, Naples is in bloom; performances, exhibitions and initiatives, that transform the city into an immense open air museum.
During “Maggio dei Monumenti” the Neoploitan city offers an unequaled program of events: With the climate as an accomplice, extraordinary landscapes, and an endless artistic and monumental patrimony, Naples becomes the capital of culture and performances.
A challenge that started years ago, that today has been perfectly achieved.
Results obtained with time and consistency, thanks to the synergetic work of the participating institutions and thanks to the formidable vivacity of the employees of culture and performances.

Month of May
Event: Procession of San Gennaro (on the Saturday before the first Sunday of May)
www.duomodinapoli.it
www.museosangennaro.com
The committee of the Treasury of San Gennaro, along with the Curia, the Municipal of Naples and the Campania Region, have brought back the antique and striking ceremony of the Procession of the Miracle of May.
This ceremony takes place on the Saturday preceding the first Sunday in May, when the Bust of San Gennaro, and phials containing his blood, are taken from the vault of the main altar of the Chapel of the Treasury for a procession with a marching band, state police in uniform, the Archbishop, officers, the mayor of Naples and president of the Delegation and of the Deputies, the squad of honor of the Cadets of Nunziatella, the order of Malta, the congregation that carries the silver busts on their shoulders, the patriots, not to mention the faithful, who march in and out of the ancient streets of the historical center of Naples.
The procession, which takes its course between Via Duomo, Spaccanapoli, Piazzetta Nilo, and Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, to arrive at the Church of Santa Chiara, is characterized by the ancient rite of the throwing of flower petals from the balconies that overlook the path of the procession, decorated and adorned like in times past, with precious satin cloths and tapestries.
Once this solemn religious function is terminated at the Church of Santa Chiara, the miracle will be announced, just as it was in 1700, with the shooting of the cannons at Castel Sant’Elmo. After, the procession makes its return to the Duomo down Via Sebastiano and Via dei Tribunali. The journey back to the Chapel also foresees flower petals thrown from the adorned balconies. The reconstruction of the May procession, according to the canon of this antique ceremony, has been inserted in the ample project of diffusing the cult of San Gennaro in the promotion of extraordinary works donated to the Patron Saint during the course of the centuries, beginning with the recent opening of the Museum of the Tesora, but also in the important project of the touristic requalification that the institution is committed to develop. The May procession, in fact, should with time, become a fixed date, not only for the faithful tied to the cult of San Gennaro, but also for the tourists, by inserting this event in touristic packages and itineraries proposed in Italy and abroad.

Month of June
Event: IV International Equestrian Contest in Piazza Plebiscito
www.csipiazzadelplebiscito.it
Give way to he fourth edition of CSI**** in Piazza del Plebiscito, again this year under the high patronage of the President of the Republic. After the high approval received, this event has been upgraded from “Maggio dei monumenti (Monuments of May) to “Grandi Eventi” (Grand Events), therefore, no longer in May but put on the calendar of events in Naples in the month of June by the International Equestrian Federation F.E.I.

Month of September
Event: Piedigrotta (from the 1st to the 12th of September)
www.festadipiedigrotta.it
'Piedigrotta’: the feast, the songs… is one of the oldest popular events in Naples. The feast of “Piedigrotta” has in fact, very ancient origins; some documents trace its historical profile back to places and times of the Greeks who characterized an area of the city that has become famous. In the same place where the Grotta of Piedigrotta stands, once called the napoleon crypt and only a short walk from the beaches of Mergellina leading up to the Campi Flegrei, stands the church dedicated to the Madonna of Piedigrotta.
It has been from the 1960’s that the feast of Piedigrotta was considered the most important Napoleon and Italian musical events where song writers, poets and musicians gathered to launch their melodies.

Month of September
Event: Pizza Fest (first half of September)
www.pizzafest.info
The origins of Pizza Fest can be traced back to the first edition of the Pizza Show that the Association of Pizza Verace Napoletana organized in 1984 at Castel dell’Ovo.
The success of the initiative, as predicted, was immediate and so much so that its creators were encouraged to continue it.
So, in 1994 the event took place at the Theater Tenda while the year after in 1995, the Maschio Angionio was chosen by the association of fautori pizza makers for the traditional Napoleon “Festa della Pizza” the new name adapted to the event that in 1997 was launched at the Exposud Hotel.
It was from that year, in association with the first of a long series of editions hosted in main exhibition areas of the city, that the association opted for the new name, which had by now become international, “Pizza Fest”.
Pizza Fest was held at the Mostra of Oltremare for only two years when after in 1999 and 2000 it transferred to the Port of Naples.
In 2001, it was again the Mosta (exhibition), with its ample open air spaces, to host the event which by now receives more than 100,000 spectators a year, a real massive event the Association Verace Pizza Napoletana imports worldwide.
In fact, in May pf 2004, the first edition of Pizza Fest in Brussels was held, serving 10,000 pizzas.
There is now a second event in Belgium and other new places in Europe, to be exact in Madrid, as well as in the countries Australia and Japan.

Month of September
Event: Miracle of San Gennaro (19 September)
www.duomodinapoli.it
www.museosangennaro.com
A modest black dress and immaculate lace handkerchiefs. This is the clothing worn by the “relatives” of San Gennaro who, with their prayers, “simulate” the miracle of the liquidation of blood.
A mystery of faith that for over six hundred years; the first liquidation became official in 1389, is repeated three times a year; on the Saturday before the first Sunday of May, the anniversary of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on the 16th of December,1631, and most importantly on the 19th of September, the date of the martyrdom of the Saint. For ten days women, who have passed the tradition down from generation to generation, recite antique litanies and prayer in spiritual preparation to assist the Arch Bishop of Naples, Crescenzio Sepe, until the much awaited miracle arrives as soon as possible to keep away the terrible disasters that could fall upon the “city of blood” or Urbs snaguinium, as it was defined by Jean Jacques Bouchard in 1632.
A soon as the miracle is verified, with the blood lumps held safely in the vials up until a few seconds before the reprisal making certain that they are suddenly and spontaneously dissolved, thousands of white handkerchiefs wave the event and the bells of Naples chime the feast.
For seven days the devoted can praise the relics until they are returned to their dark and silent place in the safe.

November - December - January
Event: Christmas in Naples - The Nativity Settings of Saint Gregorio Armeno (from the middle of November to the 6th of January)
www.comune.napoli.it
www.presepenapoletano.it
The Napoleon Christmas conserves, still today, some strong aspects of the Napoleon tradition revolving around the two symbols which are the Nativity setting and the Christmas menu.
Christmas celebrations officially start on December 8th, the day that preparations for the Nativity setting begin, and end on January 6th, when the setting is dismantled.
As you walk along the Decuman of Naples during the weeks that precede Christmas you can’t but notice the attention that evolves around the historical center of the city, noted today for its many artisan boutiques made world famous and located in Via San Gregorio Armeno, the street of the artisans of nativity settings.
It’s hard to describe with words or images the multitude of boutiques, little shops and stands that crowd Via San Gregorio Armeno; one is immediately overwhelmed by the quantity and variety of the selection.
Here one can see and purchase everything for the manger setting; from the cork mangers and carton boxes of various dimensions, to the “mechanical” objects run by electricity like windmills and waterfalls or hand painted shepherds in terracotta as high as 30 centimeters with custom fitted clothing.
You can also find the fruit vender, the “robotized” pizza maker putting pizza into the oven, the classic figures of the three kings and of course the Holy Family, with ox and ass in all sizes and prices.
Via San Gregorio Armeno can be visited throughout the entire year; the majority of the shops are always open and display their handcrafted work but in a lesser quantity and it is possible to admire the artisans at work in a more peaceful atmosphere than during the Christmas season when the large flow of tourists crowd the streets.

October - November
Event: Notte Bianca - White Night (Sleepless) in Naples
www.nottebiancanapoli.com
www.comune.napoli.it
I can still see the crowded piazza with people from all over Italy, the streets bright with celebration, music, voices, the enthusiasm breathed a year ago through the streets of Naples.
A Naples amazed and content, who once again succeeded to give its best, giving life to a grand vital and cultural event.
I am convinced that on the White Night (Sleepless) in Naples 2006/2007, we will again see that incredible energy spread even more in the many piazzas and neighborhoods, with even a more numerous outcome.
In fact, we have worked to replicate and surpass the success of last year, to increase even more the cultural offer and to amplify the positive feedback in the touristic, hotel, commercial and gastronomic sectors.
The Notte Bianca is one of those “positive shock” events that our city needs, both to give space to the desire of being together in such a unique place and to sustain and promote the economy and the image of our Naples.
To make our project of a city in celebration real, we have counted on the support of town municipals, each one giving a different face to the theme of the Mediterranean, hosting the initiative in the different towns along our coastline - Mare Nostrum.
The event will be a journey through differences and dialogues, of comparisons and cultural exchange.
Therefore, let’s enjoy the over two hundred shows that will be performed in only one night.
We’ll see you in the piazzas and in the streets of the city. Stay awake Naples and have a great Notte Bianca!!
Antonio Bassolino President of the Campania Region (comments from the notte bianca 2006)

31 dicembre
Event: New Year's Eve in Naples
www.capodannoanapoli.info/storia.htm
www.comune.napoli.it
Again this year the program is rich and enthusiastic. From 10:30 pm in Piazza del Plebiscito music and entertainment with the best DJ’s.
At the crack of midnight a toast with the institutions, and right after, a well-known national entertainer-singer live in concert.
At 1:30 am the much awaited fireworks display by the masters of pyrotechnics in the splendid frame of the Gulf of Naples, in front of Castel dell’Ovo.
At 2:00 am the city of Naples let’s you let it loose at the Stazione Marittima to the rhythms of a DJ all night long…