Millennial Naples: 2500 Years of History in Celebration
Naples, one of the oldest cities in Europe, turns 2500 years old. With the Millennial Naples project, 2025 becomes a year of memorable celebrations honoring its extraordinary historical, cultural, and identity heritage. Over 2500 events including shows, exhibitions, installations, and performances will span the entire metropolitan area, turning Naples into a true open-air stage.
The celebrations officially begin on March 25, 2025 with Millionaire Naples by Eduardo De Filippo at the Teatro di San Carlo, a symbolic place of Neapolitan culture. From that moment on, a dynamic and engaging series of events will involve local authorities, international entities, and citizens in a journey spanning two and a half millennia.
In this article, you will discover the best of the Naples 2500 program, the must-see locations, and the initiatives that make this anniversary unique. An unmissable opportunity to know, experience, and love even more the eternal city of the South.
Teatro San Carlo: The Beginning and Heart of the Celebrations
The Teatro di San Carlo is the starting point of the celebrations, with the iconic performance of Millionaire Naples on March 25, 2025. A play returning to the stage exactly 80 years after its first performance right in this theater. Eduardo’s voice will officially open the festivities, with the presence of the De Filippo family and an evening open to the city.
Among the main events:
- International Dance Day (April 29) in Piazza del Plebiscito, with an open lesson curated by the San Carlo Ballet School.
- New production of Assunta Spina, directed by Lina Sastri (October 2025).
- Enrico Caruso International Opera Competition with an international jury (October 9, 10, 12).
- World premiere of Partenope, with music by Ennio Morricone, featuring an installation by Vanessa Beecroft (December 12 and 14).
The San Carlo will also host exhibitions, such as the one dedicated to Roberto De Simone at Memus.
Real Albergo dei Poveri: Culture and Social Inclusion
The Real Albergo dei Poveri, or Palazzo Fuga, hosts events with high social and cultural value:
- On June 8, Pinocchio by Davide Iodice, winner of the UBU Award 2024, will be staged.
- July 2025: debut of Alice in the Mirror, a free art and inclusion project in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
- From July 27: Rap under the Stars, featuring cinema, cartoons, and performances.
- September-January: the installation Everyday Future, with historical artifacts and photographs by Mimmo Jodice.
The Mile of Memory: Archives, Libraries, and Living History
An ambitious and unique project running from April to December 2025: 150 linear km of archives accessible to the public with performative visits, concerts, and exhibitions. All within the city’s historic Greco-Roman area.
Among the events:
- Croce’s Naples, curated by the Italian Institute for Historical Studies.
- The Virgin of the Roses, a Baroque oratorio by Alessandro Scarlatti performed at the Girolamini Complex, 300 years after his death (October 24).
A network of over 18 cultural institutions and local archives actively participates, making this initiative a laboratory of collective memory.
Museums and Exhibitions: Pino Daniele, Villa of the Papyri, and Capodimonte
Millennial Naples also involves the city’s main museums:
- From March 3, 2025, the Royal Palace lights up with King of Light, hosting the exhibition Pino Daniele and Naples, featuring an original musical theme.
- In May/June: the MANN opens new sections dedicated to the Villa of the Papyri and Pompeian furnishings.
- In November: the Capodimonte Museum inaugurates 14 rooms dedicated to its famous porcelains, with artistic incursions and a photographic exhibition by Gianni Fiorito.
From the Port to the World: Roots, Migrations, and the Sirena App
The Port of Naples will host from June 21 to July 5 the festival At the Lighthouse, dedicated to themes of migration and cultural roots. An artistic journey curated by Eugenio Bennato among villanelles and Mediterranean voices, in collaboration with Ellis Island and the National Museum of Italian Emigration.
In parallel, the Sirena APP will be launched, transforming Naples, Paris, Buenos Aires, and New York into open-air jukeboxes with historic songs, playlists, routes, and augmented reality. A true sound map of the musical heart of Naples.
Happy Birthday Neapolis: Closing Festival
From December 21, 2025 to January 6, 2026, two weeks of events will officially close the celebrations. The "Happy Birthday Neapolis" festival will be a collective hymn to the history, creativity, and identity of a city that for 2500 years has been a crossroads of civilizations.
This celebration is made possible thanks to the synergy between the Municipality of Naples, the Ministry of Culture, local institutions, universities, associations, and national and international cultural entities.
Millennial Naples is not only a tribute to the past but a bright look to the future. Discover the full program, experience the events, and let yourself be inspired by the strength of a city that never ceases to amaze.
Watch this video about Naples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeLfSOccY48
