License plate stolen John Lennon Avenue a Napoli and the area dedicated to the English musician, who died in 1980, was vandalized.
In 1998, Beatles biographer and journalist Michelangelo Iossa proposed to the then Province of Naples – with the support of Beatlesiani d'Italia Associati – to name a pedestrian avenue after the musician from Liverpool: the petition was welcomed by thousands of signatures from Italian and international fans: in March 1998, Viale John Lennon was officially inaugurated, the first pedestrian avenue in the world dedicated to the founder of the Beatles.
Located inside the 'Marco Mascagna Park' (Via Ruoppolo Gardens), the avenue leads onto Via Tino di Camaino, in the heart of the Vomero Arenella Municipality.
“Naples was a trailblazer and an inspiration for many other great Italian cities” commented Rolando Giambelli, the lively founder and president of “Beatlesiani d'Italia Associati”, a fan club active since the early 1990s.
Following the death of George Harrison in 2001, the Favola Rock Association began an institutional process to rename it “John Lennon and George Harrison Avenue” and it is the only avenue in the world dedicated to the two deceased Beatles.
Today that city space shows no sign of the Fab Four myth, in light of the vandalism that occurred in recent days.
Article published on 2 February 2025 - 09:33
It's really a bad thing that they stole the Viale John Lennon sign, because this avenue represents an important part of the musical culture in Naples and in the world. I hope it will be restored as soon as possible.