"Who are you, Naples?" An extraordinary mural transformed the Cathedral of St. Januarius into a monumental canvas

An extraordinary work has been created on the façade of the Naples Cathedral – an interactive mural consisting of 606 portraits of its residents. The installation is a pulsating story about the soul of Naples.

Naples , a city of a thousand contrasts, has become home to one of the most moving art installations in recent years. The monumental façade of the Duomo Cathedral hosts an interactive mural composed of 606 portraits of the residents of the capital of Campania , from children to the archbishop and mayor of the city, Gaetano Manfredi.

The author of the project "Chi sei Napoli?", or "Who are you, Naples?", is JR – a French visual artist known for his monumental photographs transforming public space into a large art gallery.

- Naples is a unique city. It is like a large theatre stage where stories intertwine - he said, quoted by Napoli Corriere.

Interactive mural on the Cathedral of Naples - an extraordinary project by a French artist / @jr Instagram

The Cathedral of St. Januarius (Duomo di San Gennaro) is not only one of the most important monuments in Naples – it is the spiritual centre of the city, inextricably linked to its identity.

Built on the foundations of an ancient church in the 13th century, it has witnessed miracles and the turbulent history of Italy for centuries. It is here that, three times a year, residents gather to witness the "miracle of the dissolution of the blood" of the city's patron saint - St. Januarius - a phenomenon that is considered an omen for the fate of Naples .

Interactive mural on the facade of the Cathedral of St. Januarius in Naples / @jr Instagram

Now the cathedral's neo-Gothic façade has additionally become a monumental canvas of contemporary art.

"Chi sei Napoli?" began in September 2024, with JR setting up sets in seven districts of Naples : from Piazza Sanità and Dante, through Mergellina and Fuorigrotta, to San Giovanni a Teduccio.

Passersby – pizzaioli, firefighters, students, musicians, clergy, immigrants and tourists – stood before the artist’s lens to tell about themselves in Italian or Neapolitan. Each portrait is black and white and was made in the same format, with the same lighting.

The installation is a pulsating story about the soul of Naples . What’s more, the mural is not just a visual work – thanks to interactive elements (QR codes, audio recordings and descriptions of the stories), viewers can enter into personal contact with the heroes of the photos .

The project is the eighth installment of the global Chronicles series , previously realized in San Francisco, New York and Miami, among others. JR proves that art does not have to speak from a pedestal - it can live among people.