The outskirts of Naples are a place of sharp contrasts, where urban density, neglect, and vibrant everyday life coexist. In many of its neighborhoods, the deterioration of public space is evident in vacant lots, unfinished buildings, accumulated waste, and a lack of services and infrastructure that reflect decades of inequality.

Illegal dumping and accumulated rubbish are part of the landscape, becoming symbols 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 neighborhood life. Facades bearing images of the Virgin, makeshift altars, crosses, candles and small home shrines appear in streets, courtyards and entrances, reflecting a spirituality that accompanies residents’ daily lives and constitutes a form of cultural resistance.

In some parts of the outskirts, proximity to military facilities and the airport creates a distinctive landscape, constantly crossed by the sound of aircraft and shaped by infrastructure that determines how the area is used. The coexistence of residential neighborhoods, industrial spaces, and military areas creates a fragmented geography, where a sense of isolation contrasts with the vitality of those who continue to live here.

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