The Street Shrines of Naples as the Setting of Popular Religion

Southern Italy and of its cities particularly Naples are often subject to stereotypical and negative reports. Both in ltaly and outside its borders the attitude towards Naples is reserved and even a little bit amused; Naples is where the "deep south" is thought to begin, it is "a kasbah'' or "the beginning of Africa and the Orient". Naples is considered an anarchistic and chaotic area, far removed from the more "civilised" world of Central or Northern ltaly. The cliches attached to Naples have developed during several centuries and they are in existence to the present day (e.g. Burke 1997, 96, 101; Galasso 1982, 143-150). One of the reasons why the old stereotypes live on may be the fact that Naples is very fragmented both socially and culturally: it is a rich, layered and multifaceted metropolis. Its essential nature is no doubt very difficult to depict or to understand, and therefore it is more convenient to resort to old thinking pattems and value judgements in everyday thinking and discussion