The Befana Village, inaugurated this evening in Piazza Mercato, will remain open until the night of January 5th to 6th. There are 59 wooden houses that extend up to Piazza del Carmine. In addition to sweets and toys, the second edition of the village, which takes up an ancient Neapolitan tradition, also offers various musical events that will culminate on the 5th with the concert by Enzo Gragnaniello. In addition, all the shops in Corso Umberto and Forcella take part in the big night of white toys.
The celebration was opened with a band and majorette in the presence of the mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi and the city councilor Teresa Armato. “We are proud to have created the second edition, we hope we can continue for a long time,” says Armato. “It is a way to remember the importance of Piazza Mercato,” the mayor continued.
The mystery in Piazza Mercato
The big question mark is the fate of the city's great forgotten square. The square, despite thousands of difficulties, was rehabilitated with funds from the UNESCO project and is deserted most of the year, a land of conquest by gangs of babies who take part in secret races on scooters . The brand new lighting never came into use due to a dispute with the company that carried out the work. Over half of Lavinaio's commercial activities were closed.
“There is a need for a comprehensive recovery plan for the area,” said Manfredi. “For example, the church of Sant'Eligio has recovered, but private investment is also needed for a contemporary commercial offer.”
There was no shortage of conversations with traders: “We sat at the table several times – confirms Councilor Armato – We were thinking about a permanent trade fair. We need an agreement, an understanding of a project that is shared by most.” Manfredi and Armato had already said more or less the same words last year, as our 2023 report shows. In 12 months nothing has changed in Piazza Mercato and there is still nothing on the horizon.