“I want to reveal the stories, expressions, and emotions that make this city unique.”
NAPLES IS HOME
For photographer Chiara Scaldaferri, Naples isn’t just a backdrop, it’s the whole story.
The streets hum with character, the buildings wear their age proudly, and the people—well, the people are everything.
“My relationship with Naples has always been very strong,” she says, “perhaps because it began when I moved here for university.”
Originally from Potenza in the southern region of Basilicata, Chiara found in Naples something her hometown couldn’t quite offer.
“At first, I saw Naples more as a refuge… Potenza always felt too small for me. But over time, it became something more: for me, Naples is home.”
It’s telling that returning to Potenza now feels strange. “I feel almost out of place, as if a part of me is missing.”
THE PEOPLE MAKE NAPLES SPECIAL
Her connection to the city runs deep, and it’s one she’s carefully captured in her photography.
With a camera slung across her shoulder, Chiara roams Naples not in search of spectacle but of people.
“What makes Naples so special are the people—always ready to help, welcoming, hospitable, and sociable.” It’s this everyday openness that fuels her work.
“Naples inspires my photography with its unique energy and contrasts. Every corner tells an authentic story, from the lively streets to the faces of the people.”
A KIND HEARTED WOMAN
One of her favourite memories speaks to that bond. “I fondly remember Carmela, whom I met on my way to work.
Carmela was an old lady who lived near my workplace… she was a kind-hearted woman who let me take various pictures that I later printed and gifted to her.”
There’s no pomp in the story, no dramatic twist—just a genuine encounter, like many that seem to quietly shape Naples.
Chiara’s photography isn’t about big statements or slick edits. It’s rooted in observation, in noticing the things most of us might walk past.
“I want my images to capture the authenticity of Naples,” she says.
“Its energy, contrasts, and beauty in everyday details.” Her aim, she adds, is “to reveal the stories, expressions, and emotions that make this city unique.”
Those stories live in particular places—none of them manicured or overly glossy.
“The Spanish Quarters and the Sanità district… these neighbourhoods are rich in life, history, and local traditions.”
The way she describes them, you can almost hear the soundtrack: scooters whirring by, market vendors shouting their prices, snippets of laughter floating from open windows.
“The Sanità district is a vibrant neighbourhood where daily life unfolds in the streets,” she says.
“Vendors calling out their goods, children playing in the alleys, and locals gathering outside their homes.” Over in the Spanish Quarters, it’s much the same.
“Narrow streets lined with murals, motorbikes weaving through, and laundry hanging between buildings, creating striking compositions of light and shadow.”
SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE AND NEW STORIES TO TELL
Chiara doesn’t push the usual tourist checklist for those visiting the city for the first time. Instead, she suggests something simpler, and probably more rewarding:
“Explore the historic centre, the Sanità, and the Spanish Quarters for a taste of authentic Naples, where you can capture vibrant street life and local traditions.”
And her perfect day? Again, it’s about getting lost rather than ticking boxes. “It would be taking my camera with me and getting lost in the city, searching for people to meet and new stories to tell.”
There’s no gimmick here. No sell. Just a deep appreciation of a city that reveals itself, if you’re willing to slow down and look. Scaldaferri does just that—and in doing so, she captures Naples not as a postcard, but as a place that’s alive and full of feeling.
Want to know Naples? Walk its streets. Better yet, follow someone like Chiara and see it through her eyes.
ALL IMAGES BY CHIARA SCALDAFERRI
TO SEE MORE OF CHIARA’S WORK, YOU CAN FOLLOW HER HERE ON INSTAGRAM: