Napoli & Festival - Expo Summer

One evening, many languages

The Napoli & Festival - Expo Summer is the summer edition of a Neapolitan event that combines entertainment, civic memory, and the promotion of the local territory. It takes place over a single evening at the Arena di Villa Bruno, in the municipality of San Giorgio a Cremano, in the province of Naples, in the heart of Campania: from 6:00 PM until midnight, the park of the Vesuvius-area villa transforms into a large open space where cinema, Neapolitan song, gastronomy, and civic engagement alternate on stage and along the paths.

The formula is deliberately multidisciplinary: those who arrive early can explore the exhibition areas and enjoy Campanian street food, while those who arrive later can take their seats in the arena for the awards and concerts. It is a free, popular event—not a trade-only gathering—which explains the diverse audience of families, cinema enthusiasts, and curious visitors from the surrounding Vesuvian towns.

Napoli Cinema Festival and the «La Sirena Partenope» Award

The heart of the evening is the third edition of the Napoli Cinema Festival, featuring the presentation of the «La Sirena Partenope» Award, a symbol of Neapolitan art protected by UNESCO. The recognition is awarded to actors, directors, television series performers, and personalities who have brought visibility to the city and its image. The event has been recognized by the Campania Region since 2023 and is supported by major local trade associations.

Neapolitan song and Gold Record

Alongside cinema, there is music, with the Special Edition of the Gold Record, a historic award dedicated to Neapolitan song. Award categories range from best Neapolitan voice to best young artist, best song, best interpretation, and a lifetime achievement award. The stage features performers from the contemporary Neapolitan scene alongside well-known television and theater names, with live performances accompanying the audience until midnight.

Legality and memory: the Sala della Mehari

A section of the evening is dedicated to legality and the memory of innocent victims of crime. The most symbolic moment is the Sala della Mehari, the memorial room housing the historic Citroën Mehari in which journalist Giancarlo Siani was killed. The meeting is attended by Hon. Francesco Emilio Borrelli, who presents the artistic director with an award established as part of the «Music and Legality» project.

Gold Star - Campanian Excellence

The festival also rewards those who promote the territory through their daily work: the Gold Star - Campanian Excellence Award is given to food and wine producers, master artisans, trade associations, and social entities that enhance Campania through culture, tradition, innovation, and commitment. It is the thread that connects the entertainment portion of the event to the exhibition area.

Expo, street food, and children's area

From 6:00 PM, the park hosts the exhibition areas: stands showcasing local excellence, regional gastronomic products, Campanian street food, and a vast children's area with continuous entertainment. This is the «expo» part of the name, making the event suitable for families who want to spend the entire evening outdoors.

Villa Bruno, the cultural center of the Golden Mile

The setting is no coincidence. Villa Bruno is an 18th-century Vesuvius-area villa overlooking the so-called Golden Mile, the road of Bourbon noble residences between Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Today, it is the cultural center of San Giorgio a Cremano: it houses the municipal library, offices, and associations, and its open-air arena is the natural stage for the city's summer events—the city is also the birthplace of Massimo Troisi.

Organizers

The event is under the artistic direction of Alfonso Gemito, directed by Savio Morelli, with organizational management by Dario Duro (AMIRA Naples representative), in collaboration with the association Dagal Creations APS, active since 2007 in promoting Neapolitan culture.