Naples Events

Naples' main festivals honour San Gennaro. On the first Sunday in May, on 19 September and on 16 December each year, thousands gather in the Duomo for the Festa di San Gennaro to pray that the saint's blood, held in two phials, will liquefy: a miracle said to save the city from potential disasters.

Other important festivals include Maggio dei Monumenti, the city's premier cultural event. Occurring every May, it offers a month-long menu of exhibitions, concerts, dance performances, guided tours and much more. Madonna del Carmine, held on 16 July in Piazza del Carmine, culminates in a fireworks display. The Neapolis Rock Festival, which is held on the beach at Arenile di Bagnoli in the height of summer attracts top international acts. The Fiesta di Piedigrotta, dedicated to the Madonna, occurs 5-12 September, and at Christmas, thousands of elaborate nativity scenes are erected around the city.