Book the 'Naples of Maradona' tour
Naples and soccer is a love story that has lasted a century and is closely linked to the iconic player Diego Armando Maradona. Over the years, Neapolitan passion for soccer has transformed many corners of the city with street art and folklore.
If you're a sports fan planning a trip to Naples following the team's historic 2023 championship victory, you can't miss a tour of Maradona's Naples and soccer, with all the traditional stops as well as new attractions dedicated to the championship. To see everything you'll need a couple of days, with day one in the tourist heart of the city and day two discovering other related neighborhoods outside the city.
See also: Three Days in Naples
Decorations in the Sanità district
If you love soccer and want to enjoy the post-championship party atmosphere of Naples, take a walk in the Sanità district, with stops also to visit the Naples Duomo and the Treasure of San Gennaro. All the alleys and houses in the neighborhood have been decorated with blue banners, flags and streamers, perhaps destined to remain an integral part of the street's appearance.
There's no need to follow a specific itinerary here; you can just wander leisurely through the streets of the neighborhood. One of the most colorful and eye-catching corners is the famous San Gennaro mural by street artist Jorit on via Vicaria Vecchia. This mural is one of the undisputed icons of Neapolitan street art.
Altar with Maradona's hair
Since 1990, the most credible version of this story holds that Naples' most famous soccer relic was found by the owner of Bar Nilo on a return trip from Milan. It is said that the hair was found on the airplane seat occupied by the Pibe de Oro (the Golden Boy) and was placed in an actual votive shrine in via San Biagio dei Librai, where you can view it today.
Local tip: This is one of the best areas to try an excellent traditional Neapolitan pizza. You probably won't be the only one with your mouth watering, so be prepared to face a more or less long queue to enjoy your pizza. If you really can't wait, you can fill up on the abundant variety of street food and traditional desserts from local restaurants.
You can visit the altar with Maradona's hair in the heart of Naples old town and easily include it as a quick stop on a walking itinerary. It's located in via San Biagio dei Librai, a stone's throw from Spaccanapoli and the famous "nativity scene street" San Gregorio Armeno, where you can also admire soccer-themed figurines and gadgets.
Murals in the Quartieri Spagnoli
You can visit another tribute from Neapolitans to their Argentine idol in the city's Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarters) district. One of the oldest working-class neighborhoods of Naples, it's located about a 10-minute walk from Piazza del Plebiscito. Known in the past as a seedy area, in recent years the “quarters” have undergone a progressive redevelopment and the area is now full of traditional trattorias and bed and breakfasts.
Here, on the facade of a building on Via Emanuele de Deo, you can admire a famous painting made in the 90s by the young artist Mario Filardi. It portrays Diego Armando Maradona playing soccer with the iconic Napoli “Mars” shirt and the captain's armband.
In nearby Vico Giardinetto there's a mural titled “la Mano de Dios”, painted by Argentine artist San Spiga in honor of the famous "hand of God" goal at the 1986 World Cup against England.
Diego Armando Maradona stadium
The home stadium of Napoli Calcio doesn't house any museum and can't be visited on the inside, but if you're particularly interested in the combination of Naples and soccer you might want to take a look at the outside. The stadium is located on via Giambattista Marino, in the populous neighborhood of Fuorigrotta.
Wondering how to get to Maradona stadium? It's located off the beaten path, but not too far from the center of Naples. You can get there by taxi or take the Metro line 2 and get off at the Campi Flegrei stop (here it's worth spending a few minutes admiring the station, which dates back to the early 1900s).
Fun fact: The stadium was renamed in December 2020, a few weeks after Maradona's death. Prior to then, since 1963, it had been called "Stadio San Paolo", a name still very dear to Neapolitan fans. It's the third largest stadium in Italy and can accommodate approximately 55,000 fans.
Near the stadium is the Mostra d'Oltremare, the Naples convention center that hosts festivals, demonstrations and other events. With a walk of about 20 minutes you can reach the Naples Zoo and the Edenlandia amusement park, two very popular attractions for those visiting Naples with children.
Jorit's murals in San Giovanni a Teduccio
If you still have time and you're looking for more to explore around the Naples culture of soccer and Maradona, you can head to the outskirts of the city to take some photos of the famous mural painted by the Italian street artist Jorit.
The mural is called “Dios Umano”, it is made in Jorit's unmistakable style and is located in the neighborhood of San Giovanni a Teduccio, in via Taverna del Ferro. The artist used fundraising to finance the work, which was created in 2017. Even the former captain of the Napoli soccer team, Marek Hamsik, participated in the fundraiser.
How to get to Jorit's mural dedicated to Maradona: Take Metro Line 2 to the San Giovanni – Barra stop and then walk. We recommend you visit only during the day and stay aware of your belongings and surroundings as you would in the outskirts of any large city.
Naples soccer culture: food and drink
To complete your soccer and Maradona-themed tour of Naples, we recommend you try some of the specialties the Neapolitans have dedicated to their team after the long-awaited championship.
In the city center on via Pignasecca you can try a unique blue sandwich offered by the popular delicatessen "Da Donato - Con mollica o senza".
The stores of the cocktail bar "Swig" offer a shot dedicated to the striker Osimhen. The shot is blue with a black protective mask on the shot glass just like Osimhen wears. You can enjoy these shots at the Swig locations in either Vomero or Chiaia, two iconic nightlife neighborhoods in Naples.