Naples – The city of Naples paid homage to the memory of Giovanbattista Cutolo, the young 18-year-old musician killed on the evening of August 31, 2023 in Piazza Municipio, the victim of a senseless act of violence.
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Today, at the place where Giogiò, as he was affectionately known, lost his life, a commemorative plaque was unveiled which reads: “The purity of your soul and the sound of your horn will forever echo in our hearts”.
The ceremony, organized to remember the young talent, was attended by the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, the prefect of Naples Michele di Bari, the mayor Gaetano Manfredi and Giogiò's parents, Daniele Di Maggio and Franco Cutolo.
Two wreaths were laid at the site of the tragedy, one from the minister and one from the mayor, while the orchestra of the Villaggio Coppola comprehensive institute, named after Giovanbattista Cutolo, performed the Mameli anthem.
A mother's voice: "Life is reborn here"
Daniela Di Maggio, Giogiò's mother, spoke with emotion, transforming the pain into a message of hope: “Today is the day of redemption, in which legality and the State win over evil.
In this place, where there were the shots that killed my son, today there is the sound of the horn. Giogiò must keep high the memory of beauty and legality. This square must no longer be the place of death, but that of rebirth, where life was born”.
The woman thanked the institutions for the support received, recalling that Minister Piantedosi awarded Giogiò the gold medal for civil valor. “Their presence here today means that the State is here, and for me this is important”, he added.
A message of legality and hope
Mayor Gaetano Manfredi called the plaque a “warning for the city”, underlining Naples' commitment to defending the principles of legality and fighting violence. “This plaque demonstrates our commitment to ensure that situations like these never happen again”, he has declared.
Manfredi also highlighted the fundamental role of schools and young people in building a better future: “With their daily commitment, they remind us that investing in young people means investing in the future of the city. With the collective effort and the work of our educators, we will build a better Naples, capable of fighting the negative energies that led to the loss of Giovanbattista”.
“Nisciuno te scorda”: Giogiò's memory lives on
To make the ceremony even more touching, a group of young people from the association “Giogiò Lives” he paraded wearing t-shirts with the writing “The sun can only come out now”, showing a sign with the young musician's face and the words “No one forgets you”. A simple but powerful message, which sums up the feeling of an entire city: Naples does not forget Giogiò and his broken dream.
The plaque in Piazza Municipio is not only a symbol of memory, but also an invitation to reflect and act for a future in which beauty and legality prevail over violence. Giogiò, with his horn and his passion for music, will continue to live in the heart of Naples.
Article published on March 22, 2025 - 17pm
It's sad to know that a young man like Giogiò lost his life in such a bad way. The plaque is a nice gesture, but I hope this doesn't happen again. Naples must change and become safer for everyone.