History of “pallonetto”

Originally a small village of sailors, located behind the historic Neapolitan district of Santa Lucia, built in the XIX century, is the famous Pallonetto, one of the most characteristic areas of our city that has a story to tell really fascinating from its first name. The lob of Santa Lucia is characterized by a long staircase that leads to narrow streets and narrow streets that connect to the Neapolitan bass, where folklore is at home here.

The origins of the name

Before talking about the village we start by telling you that it is called this way thanks to a game, invented at the Medici court, very popular at the end of 1600, which involved the use of small balls made by hand containing a ball of lead wrapped in rubber and wool with a leather cover, which had to be hit by the players with a bare hand. The game of the lob from the courts, soon began to arrive also in the most popular neighborhoods of the cities of Italy and also in Naples where the children, the “scugnizzi” played with these balls in the alleys of the city in the open air.

A controversial village

The lob of Santa Lucia, despite being a place that exudes the true popular history of the city, contains in itself, if you look at it with critical eyes so many “architectural barbarities”. In fact, it is characterized by many alleys, where the absence of air and light is really predominant, for the houses there is no symmetry or style, the steps of this village are mostly shabby, yet despite everything, it is still a very populated village and those who live in these areas have a strong belonging to the place, a sort of urban identity. In short, a very characteristic village seen from the outside but that contains in itself so many critical issues.

Yet who lives in this area, can not help but appreciate the benefits, the village is indeed close to the sea and a stone’s throw from the heart of the city and Neapolitan movida, but above all the community spirit is very lively where everyone they know and where time seems to have never passed.[:]