Diego Armando Maradona was more than just a footballer for Naples: he became a piece of its soul. When he arrived in town in 1984, Napoli had never won a Scudetto, and the idea of competing with the big clubs of the North seemed almost a dream. With him, however, everything changed. In just a few years he led the team to win two championships, one Italy Cup, one UEFA Cup and a Italian Supercup, turning Napoli into a football powerhouse and giving fans joys that no one would have imagined.

But Maradona's importance is not limited to sports trophies. For the city, which was experiencing economic and social difficulties in those years, he represented a symbol of redemption. His story of incredible talent and struggle against those who had given him up for defeat spoke directly to the hearts of Neapolitans. Maradona came and sided with them, with the simplest, with those who hungered for revenge. It was precisely this that created a bond So strong, almost familiar.

In Naples he was not considered a distant idol, but was "one of the house," an adopted son who gave voice to the pride of an entire city. Lo Sao Paulo Stadium became his kingdom, so much so that today it bears his name. And even today, walking the streets, it is impossible not to meet his face among murals, altarpieces, flags and photographs hanging in bars. For many, Maradona has become a kind of secular saint, a symbol who protects, who represents, who reminds everyone of the strength and dignity of a people.

Maradona's memory among statues, altars and murals scattered around the city

Walking the streets of Naples, it is easy to come across many tributes and monuments dedicated to the memory of the famous Argentine soccer player. Perhaps the most famous attraction is the great murals present in the Spanish Quarter and created in 1990 by local artist Mario Filardi right after Napoli won its second Scudetto. The drawing on a building facade depicts Maradona wearing a Napoli jersey, and in 2016 it was restored to keep the face of the "Pibe de Oro" alive and sharp. After Maradona's passing, the clearing was renamed the Largo Maradona and today it is a pilgrimage destination for fans, tourists and visitors from all over the world who come by to admire the mural, leave flowers, take photos and pay their respects.

Another famous tribute is Maradona's mural in San Giovanni a Teduccio, one of the most emblematic works of Jorit Agoch, the Neapolitan artist of Dutch descent who in 2017 decided to dedicate a monumental portrait to the footballer on the facades of the council houses in Via Taverna del Ferro. Jorit began the project by self-financing it, but the work was also completed thanks to the support of those who believed in the symbolic value of the mural, including the then Napoli captain, Marek Hamsik, and some local associations. The result is an image of an adult Maradona, with a full beard, intense gaze and marks on his face, inspired by a photograph taken when he coached the Argentine national team.

Among the many artworks inspired by Maradona are various statues, such as the bronze one of Dominic Sepe displayed at the Maradona Museum in the Spanish Quarters or the large, 6-meter-high statue unveiled in Largo Maradona. The work is entitled. D10S and was created by the Italian-Argentinian artist Salvador Gaudenti.

Visit the Maradona Museum

Among the many initiatives that have sprung up in Naples to pay tribute to its most beloved champion is the Maradona Museum, located in Vico Cariati, just a few steps from the famous Largo Maradona in the Spanish Quarter. This small but valuable exhibition space holds numerous objects belonged to Pibe de Oro, treated almost like relics, so strong is the feeling that binds the city to his legend.

The museum was born out of the desire to Massimo Vignati, son of Saverio, the historic custodian of the Neapolitan stadium for 30 years. Thanks to the bond of friendship his family built with Maradona, to the point that Vignati's wife, Lucia, was the soccer player's personal housekeeper for years, Massimo inherited many items that now make up the collection.

Among the most significant pieces is the bronze statue of Maradona, created in 2020 by sculptor Domenico Sepe, which depicts Diego as a victorious hero, adorned with the symbols of the Scudetti and Coppa Italia won with Napoli. But the museum also holds numerous unique memorabilia:

• the Boca Juniors jersey

• the shirt worn by Maradona on the day of his arrival in Naples

• Napoli's jersey from the 1987-88 season

• the ball from the 1986 Mexico World Cup

• the locker room bench used by the champion

The guided tour of Maradona Museum get in touch with the history, memory and emotion of a man who united generations of Neapolitans and continues to live on as a timeless myth in the heart of the city.