L'infinito viaggiare: Cinema at Parco Virgiliano

Cinema returns to the Posillipo hill

L'infinito viaggiare: Cinema at Parco Virgiliano is the open-air film series that, in early July 2026, brought the big screen to one of the most evocative spots in Naples: Parco Virgiliano, the Posillipo viewpoint overlooking the gulf, Mount Vesuvius, and the islands. The initiative was promoted and funded by the Municipality of Naples as part of the Estate a Napoli 2026 summer program, with artistic direction by CasaCinema. Admission was completely free, subject to availability.

The four-night program

The schedule, originally planned to start on July 2nd, was rescheduled due to a yellow weather alert issued by the Civil Protection of the Campania Region, which mandated the closure of city parks. Screenings were concentrated from July 3rd to 6th, 2026, all starting at 9:00 PM:

• Friday, July 3rd — Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
• Saturday, July 4th — Divorzio all'italiana (Divorce Italian Style) by Pietro Germi
• Sunday, July 5th — Buena Vista Social Club by Wim Wenders, in original version with subtitles
• Monday, July 6th — The Rocky Horror Picture Show by Jim Sharman, in original version with subtitles

A deliberately eclectic selection, pairing the autobiographical animation of Persepolis with Germi's classic Italian comedy, and Wenders' Cuban musical documentary with Sharman's cult pop musical: four different ways of interpreting the concept of travel, which give meaning to the festival's title.

A park reopening after construction

The symbolic value of these evenings went beyond the program. Parco Virgiliano remained closed for a long time for major redevelopment work, with successive extensions, and was partially reopened to the public on June 27, 2026. The entrance square, the north avenue, the viewpoints, and the area adjacent to the Via Tito Lucrezio Caro entrance became accessible again, while work continues on the monumental portal, green areas, facilities, playgrounds, the amphitheater, and the fountain, with completion expected by 2027. City councilor Vincenzo Santagada chose a gradual reopening strategy, aiming to return one of the city's most important green spaces to the public as soon as possible.

Estate a Napoli 2026

The festival is part of Estate a Napoli 2026, the annual program through which the Municipality enlivens the summer in the capital of Campania and the metropolitan city of Naples with dozens of free or low-cost events dedicated to cinema, music, theater, and dance, spread across parks, public gardens, historic courtyards, and suburbs. Open-air cinema has been one of its cornerstones for years, and the choice of Parco Virgiliano as a venue allowed for the combination of cultural enjoyment with the rediscovery of a public space just returned to the citizens.

An experience between sea and screen

Watching a film at Parco Virgiliano means having one of the most famous panoramas in the Mediterranean behind or to the side of you: the Posillipo hill dominates the islet of Nisida, the Phlegraean Fields, the Gulf of Pozzuoli, and, on the other side, the entire arc of the Gulf of Naples. The audience is typical of Neapolitan summer evenings: local families, young people, film enthusiasts, and curious visitors who climbed up here for the view. The atmosphere is informal and intimate, with the evening breeze making even the July heat bearable.

Good to know

• Free admission, no reservation required, subject to availability
• Screenings at 9:00 PM, outdoors
• Two films in original version with Italian subtitles
• The park is still partially under construction: please follow the signage and staff instructions