To mark the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of Naples, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Culture have established the Neapolis 2500 National Committee, with the aim of supporting a wide-ranging programme of cultural, scientific, and diplomatic initiatives.
The programme officially launched on 26–27 May during the NATO Summit on Mediterranean Security and will continue throughout 2025. The initiative not only celebrates this significant anniversary but also seeks to foster meaningful dialogue, allowing Naples—true to its tradition—to contribute to shaping the future of Europe and the West.
The wide array of initiatives is promoted by the Neapolis 2500 National Committee, chaired by the Prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari. The Committee also includes Maestro Pupi Avati, Rector of the University of Suor Orsola Benincasa Lucio D’Alessandro, entrepreneur Maria Luisa Faraone Mennella, Ambassador Pasquale Ferrara, endocrinologist Dr Salvatore Longobardi, and journalist and writer Gennaro Sangiuliano. The programme of events follows four main thematic strands: culture, diplomacy, enterprise, and internationalisation.
The Neapolis 2500 initiatives bring to Naples representatives from institutions, governmental and international organisations, as well as the scientific and academic communities. At the same time, they aim to project the city’s cultural, artistic, scientific, and entrepreneurial excellence onto the global stage. The overarching goal is to foster a productive dialogue capable of generating an ecosystem that directly connects Naples’ contemporary realities with a vision for a valuable and forward-looking future. Special attention is also devoted to the enhancement of Naples’ cultural and scientific heritage.
The programme opened with three events of strong international scope, in collaboration with NATO, UNESCO, and RAI. It will continue in October with thematic festivals dedicated to Benedetto Croce, Totò, and the history of Neapolitan culture, culminating in the Mediterranean Dialogues (15–17 October). This annual gathering is a key platform for analysis and debate on geopolitics, energy, security, and development in the Mediterranean region, bringing to the South of Italy a forum of global significance with the participation of political, economic, cultural, civil society, and academic leaders. As part of the initiative, the city of Naples will host cultural and storytelling events open to the public, fostering new paths of peace, cooperation, and solidarity.
The extensive programme of activities planned for the year—featuring the participation of institutions, cultural operators, scientists, and academics—aims to further strengthen Naples’ international role, promoting dialogue, cooperation, and the dissemination of the values of culture and knowledge.
