OpenTube

Naples: Beauty, Chaos and Survival

Focal

189,929 views

The first thing I would say to anyone thinking of moving here is this: do not come to Naples expecting postcard Italy.

Naples is one of the most beautiful, chaotic, emotional, and misunderstood cities in Europe. In this video, I look at what it is really like to move to Naples as a foreigner — not just as a tourist, but as someone trying to build a life here.

We talk about the cost of living, rent, salaries, job opportunities, safety, neighbourhoods, culture, and the contradictions that make Naples so unique..

This is not a video selling Naples as a cheap dream, and it is not a video attacking the city either. Naples can be paradise, but it can also be difficult. It is economically poor in many ways, but culturally rich beyond words. It is a city of beauty, struggle, history, food, football, faith, chaos, generosity, and contradictions.

Hope you enjoy.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————
For Business Inquiries, please email: madebyfocal@gmail.com

00:00 Naples Is Not Postcard Italy!
01:10 I’m Not Italian, I’m Neapolitan
01:27 The Maradona Effect
01:52 Mum, I’ve Fallen in Love with Maradona!
02:10 Maradona in Argentina
02:25 Naples Winning the Championship
03:30 Is Maradona a God to Neapolitans?
04:25 The Oldest Pizzeria in the World
05:00 The History of Pizza
06:05 Cost of Living in Naples
06:20 Is Naples Poor?
06:35 Naples Unemployment Rate
07:20 Finding Work in Naples
07:40 Who Is Naples For?
08:55 Expat Experience Living in Naples
09:45 Average Salary and Rent
10:20 The Problem with Averages
11:00 What Salary Should You Have If You Move to Naples?
12:17 Hell or Paradise?
13:40 The Eye Test — Conclusion
15:20 ’O Surdato ’Nnammurato

20 Comments

@madebyfocal Creator 2 weeks ago Pinned

I Went Into a Warzone in Africa With My Dad.

The West looks at Ethiopia and sees poverty. Ethiopia made me question what the West has lost.

This film follows a journey with my father from the changing streets of Addis Ababa to Lalibela — a place of rock-hewn churches, ancient faith and traditions that have endured for centuries. But Lalibela also lies within Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where conflict has changed tourism, livelihoods and something as simple as what it means to feel safe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58YVsmTw_7M

@TheAngelaDuke 2 months ago

I absolutely loved this video. I've been traveling to Italy since the 1960s because I have family in the Campania region. Growing up, I was always told by my relatives, "Never go to Naples." For decades, I listened. Last month, I finally decided to see it for myself and rented an apartment in Naples for an entire week. It turned out to be the most incredible experience I've ever had in all my years of visiting Italy. The city is alive with energy. The history is everywhere you look, the food is unforgettable, and the warmth and kindness of the people deserve a story all their own. I was also amazed by the revitalization taking place throughout the city. Naples has such an exciting future while still honoring its extraordinary past. For the first time in my life, when it was time to fly home to America, I was genuinely sad to leave. That has never happened before. I was always ready to come back to the States, but this time a part of me wanted to stay in Naples. Thank you for creating such a wonderful video. It truly captured the spirit of this remarkable city.

@BluBrio77 2 months ago

I am Neapolitan, and this is one of the most comprehensive documentary/ videos I have seen on Napoli up to now. Really well done it. Congratulations!

@mignush 2 months ago

The part of crying twice is so true. We arrived in Napoli first time in 2018 on a roadtrip through Italy. Traffic was horrific, finding parking space for the week was impossible, the streets were dirty and the hotel was expensive and not as advertised. Yet, after a few hours, a walk by the water and the first pizza, I was hooked. When our stay was up I booked four more days and when we finally had to leave, I found myself sad and feeling empty. We have been back many times since and the city is easily on my top 3 destinations to go to for vacation. There's really nothing else like it that I've found anywhere.

@hannahthaplanna 2 months ago

On my first trip to Europe from the US, I was visiting my daughter who was studying abroad in Berlin. She wanted to take me on a little side trip for my birthday and asked if I'd rather go to Naples or Paris. I chose Naples, because I wanted to see the Amalfi Coast and she wanted to see Pompeii. The whole trip was magical, but I fell in love with Naples, and I would love to go back there and spend more time!

@okatalan 2 months ago

Hey, as a Neapolitan who's been living abroad for 20 years, I just wanted to say thanks, your video on Naples was fantastic and really captured the city honestly and authentically. Bravo!

@iganu-music 2 months ago

I went to Napoli last year. Stayed right in the heart of the Spanish quarter with the nonnas and nonnos playing scope next to their birds on the table. Every house had its door open all day and people sat outside. The community really look after each other and they eat well. It's a special place for sure.

@elenasterling3159 2 months ago

I grew up there and although I visited once as a young adult, I vowed I would never return until I could stay forever.
Nothing and nobody broke my heart like leaving Napoli❤

@malaudisa 2 months ago

Your video moved me, it's a poem to Napoli and life: joy and sadness wrapped into one.

@mattbristo6933 2 months ago

I have been going to Naples since I was 16 and have lived there for periods. It is a difficult place to live but one day in Naples is worth 10 anywhere else!

@WinstonTexas829 2 months ago (edited)

Like many people commenting on here, I have been visiting Naples since the early 90s, most recently this May & have always been deeply in love with it and wondered whether I could live there. Thank you for this intelligent, articulate, well balanced commentary on the city.

@martinlowe9305 1 month ago

On my first visit to Napoli after dropping off my luggage at the hotel, I went for a walk for a couple of hours. I arrived back to the hotel shell shocked, it felt like a walk in a war zone. Chaotic, noisy, messy and overwhelming. At the end of my 4 day visit I was hooked. Napoli gets under your skin like nowhere else. The people are amazing and friendly. Beneath the grime is a beautiful city of wonders and history. The food is incredible. The sea and bay are picture perfect. I learnt to embrace the chaos and just go with it. I've since been back again and it just gets more interesting and fascinating. Embrace Napoli and it will squeeze more life out of you that you didn't know you had!

@albenamladenova6425 2 months ago (edited)

Been there three times. I adore this city and its wonderful people with big hearts. The energy and positive vibes are contagious.

@BeatPoet67 2 months ago

Really well done. I visited Naples last year took in a Napoli game and enjoyed some nights out. You've captured the spirit of the place. It doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. It's earthy, vibrant a bit messy and chaotic. But it's real.

@robertozotta490 2 months ago

I've been there... it's a beautiful chaos !!! but the HEART of ITALY !!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

@louiseboni516 2 months ago

What a fantastic video! My son lives in Napoli, we just recently came back after a month with them. It was once again an unforgettable experience

@tracylynm614 2 months ago

I have been to Italy two times so far and both times I lodged in Naples. I did travel to other southern locations during my stay, but slept in Naples and walked all around. I absolutely love Naples!! Forza Napoli!!

@TheManInTheRing 2 months ago

The story of maradona and naples go hand in hand whether he accomplished anything at all. He was from a poor part of agentina, looked down on. He chose to come to naples also looked down on. He brought it up, all the way to the heavens of italy and football.

@ebbe-q3u 2 months ago (edited)

I'm northern Italian, from Lombardy. I was in Naples twice. Naples is incredible, breathtaking, immense. thank you for this video. I love it. Grande, grandissima Napoli.

@jrthiker9908 2 months ago

Fantastic and beautifully honest video. I, too, fell in love with Napoli, but I live in Abruzzo (TE). What the gentleman in the video said comparing the two is so correct. You really captured the essence of Napoli and its strength is in its people and culture. I'm never happier in Italy than when I'm in Napoli, and I can't explain it. Part of it is I grew up in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and New York, so a gritty big city doesn't bother me. But at this chapter of my life, the calm steadiness and beauty of Abruzzo and the Adriatic coast is what feeds my soul (plus we have family here.) For others thinking of moving to Italy, it is a country of countries...every region is completely different in culture, food, and language. Do your homework, visit all the regions and provinces until you find one that resonates with you. And know you must learn Italian, you cannot survive outside the tourist cities if you don't speak at least a level B1 intermediate Italian.