N eapolitans will tell you, of their own volition, that the high-octane city has transformed over the last decade. Once Italy’s bad boy, beset by mafia bosses, Naples has cleaned up its act: violent and petty crime has declined, the art scene is spirited, hotels are storied, and €1 Aperol spritzes are the norm; a new generation of visitors is eager to explore.

High fashion, perhaps, saw the shift first, with brands including Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana, Zara and Andersson Bell shooting campaigns on Naples’ streets back in 2023. Funding and investment are now catching up, with the city chosen to host sailing’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup in 2027, the first time the event has ever been held in Italy .

The nod comes after Naples hosted the World Series warm-up events in 2012 and 2013, drawing more than 500,000 spectators.

Washing strung between tall tenement buildings in the Spanish Quarter in Naples (Getty/iStock)

“That was instrumental in shifting global perceptions of Naples,” says Déborah…