Naples, Mappatella Beach celebrates 21 years: from a landfill to a symbol of inclusion and access to the sea.

Naples celebrated the 21st anniversary of Mappatella Beach with a popular event at Rotonda Diaz, which attracted approximately a thousand residents and international visitors. Today, this public beach, managed by the City of Naples, offers umbrellas, showers, beach volleyball courts, outdoor gyms, and a dedicated service for people with disabilities, demonstrating a concrete commitment to inclusion.

Mappatella Beach's transformation began in the early 2000s, when the area was an open-air landfill, filled with waste, neglect, and even a sewer drain. Cleanup began in 2005, and since then, a long battle has begun to restore the sea to the city, involving complaints, interventions, and services achieved step by step.

MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli, promoter of the Mare Libero Day initiative, emphasized how this beach has become a symbol of redevelopment and how Mappatella Beach has ushered in a new era that has extended to other stretches of the Neapolitan coast, from Posillipo to Bagnoli, all the way to East Naples.

According to Borrelli, it's necessary to continue along this path to make the entire coastline accessible, free from vandalism, abuse, and incivility. The sea must be a common good, clean, safe, and available to all, without privilege or exclusion.

The event was attended by institutional representatives, associations, and activists, including Tourism Councilor Teresa Armato and members of Europa Verde, who shared the importance of maintaining and strengthening these results for the city's future.