Naples: Corso Vittorio Emanuele held hostage by waste, citizens outraged and tourists dismayed

Naples – A shameful open-air landfill disfigures one of the most evocative corners of Naples, precisely in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, in the central area near the parish church of Santa Maria Apparente.

The complaint comes directly from residents, exasperated by a situation that they define as "intolerable" and that clashes violently with the historical and landscape beauty of the Neapolitan city.

The corner of Corso Vittorio Emanuele today presents itself as an indiscriminate accumulation of waste of all kinds: garbage bags, food scraps, bulky items abandoned without any regard for hygiene and urban decorum.

An eyesore for anyone passing through this vital artery of the city, but above all a terrible calling card for the many tourists who daily walk down the historic Petraio stairs, which overlooks right next to this unsightly situation.

 The anger of the citizens who have repeatedly reported the outrage

“It is unacceptable that such a central and popular place is reduced to this state”, thunders a visibly indignant resident of the area. "We have reported the situation several times, but so far no one has intervened. We feel abandoned and helpless in the face of this outrage."

The anger of the citizens is palpable, especially considering the negative impact that this makeshift landfill has on the image of the city. “Imagine the welcome that thousands of tourists find when they come down the Petraio steps”, underlines another inhabitant, showing some eloquent photographs of the situation. “They find themselves faced with this indecent spectacle. What idea will they form of our city?”

The residents' appeal is unanimous: they urge immediate intervention by the competent authorities for the removal of waste and the redevelopment of the area.

They also ask for greater attention and more frequent checks to prevent similar situations from repeating themselves in the future, thus protecting the urban decorum and dignity of one of the most beautiful and historic areas of Naples. The hope is that this cry of alarm can raise awareness among those in charge and restore Corso Vittorio Emanuele to its most dignified and welcoming face.