The outskirts of Naples are a land of stark contrasts, where urban density, neglect and a vibrant everyday life coexist. In many neighbourhoods, the deterioration of public spaces is evident in vacant lots, unfinished buildings, piles of rubbish and a lack of services and infrastructure that reflect decades of inequality.

Illegal dumping sites and accumulated rubbish are part of the landscape, becoming a symbol of the social and environmental challenges that have shaped these areas. Despite this, the community maintains a deeply rooted identity.

Religion occupies a central place in neighbourhood life. Facades bearing images of the Virgin, makeshift altars, crosses, candles and small home shrines appear on streets, in courtyards and in doorways, reflecting a spirituality that accompanies residents’ everyday lives and constitutes a form of cultural resistance.

In some areas on the outskirts, the proximity of military facilities and the airport creates a distinctive landscape, continually crossed by the noise of planes and the presence of infrastructure that shapes the territory. The coexistence of residential areas, industrial spaces and military zones creates a fragmented geography, where the sense of isolation contrasts with the vitality of those who continue to live here.

Beyond the stereotypes, the Neapolitan outskirts reveal a complex reality in which neglect, memory, resilience and identity coexist in the same space, offering a profound perspective on the urban and social transformations of southern Italy.