Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
centre has negatively affected business. Others
sceptics refer back to 1994 and the city's host-
ing of the G7 summit. A time of significant
urban renewal and optimism, it was ironically
followed by almost two decades of escalating
crime, stop-start waste disposal crises, and
political malaise. Only time will tell if de Ma-
» Area: 13,590 km²
» Unemployment: 31.39% (2012)
» Number of Unesco World Heritage Sites: 5
» Most common surname: Esposito
gistris will prove his detractors wrong.
People Power
The winds of change are blowing beyond the Municipio. Fed up with years of political in-
ertia and over-stretched services, citizen-based groups are taking matters into their own
hands. Grassroots organisation CleaNap is well known for clearing litter and graffiti from
Neapolitan streets and squares. Fellow group Friarielli Ribelli ('
friarielli
' is a local type
of broccoli and '
ribelli
' means 'rebels') made the headlines with its guerilla gardening,
its small army of volunteers pulling out weeds, planting flowers, and giving the city's few
pockets of green some much-needed TLC. Online group VANTO. (an acronym for
'pride') is also on board, monitoring and reporting damage to city churches,
palazzi
(large
buildings), monuments and gardens, and suggesting low-cost means for their salvage and
long-term preservation.
Another inspiring agent of change is Don
Antonio Loffredo. Based in La Sanità, an
inner-city district long challeneged by poverty
and organised crime, the bespectacled priest is
the force behind 'La Parenza', a social co-op-
erative offering at-risk local youths new oppor-
tunities. Among these are the restoration and
management of the area's famous catacombs,
the running of neighbourhood guided tours,
and even the creation and management of a new bed and breakfast. Supported by the likes
of prolific Neapolitan artist Riccardo Dalisi, Don Antonio's efforts are slowly reversing
the neighbourhood's fortunes. A spirit of civic pride and purpose is on the increase, as are
the number of artist residents and curious tourists drawn to its revamped historical treas-
ures.
While Salerno remains Campania's eco-
friendly role model, recycling 71% of its
waste, the town of Acerra is quickly catching
up, with its recycling rate leaping from 10% in
2011 to 62% in 2012. Much less impressive is
Naples, at 17.7%.
