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| Naples remembered in small tokens |
He who doesn’t love Naples has yet to learn how to love life. ~ Anonymous
After Latin Mass on the 4th Sunday of Advent—the first day of winter—we marked the 2,500th birthday of Naples in the simplest way possible: together.
A small group of friends gathered for lunch at Amunì Ristorante, where parmigiana di melanzane and fresh spaghetti al ragù anchored our table. No speeches, no ceremony—just a shared meal in roisterous acknowledgment of storied Parthenope.
The lunch also doubled as our Christmas gathering. Modest Naples-themed gifts were exchanged. I received a copy of Pulcinella, The Mask and the Soul of Naples: An Illustrated Story of Myth, People, and Theatre (2025) by Davide D’Aniello, along with a small Neapolitan keychain—simple gifts, quietly in keeping with the occasion.
No matter how small the group or gesture, we make an effort to remember what matters. On the winter solstice, honoring our ancient capital felt especially fitting.
~ Giovanni di Napoli, December 21st, the shortest day
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| Spaghetti al ragù |
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| Parmigiana di melanzane |
