Italianità
Fingers Crossed for "'O Sole Mio"!
Why Naples’ most famous anthem is fighting for official UNESCO recognition.
What Italian song has been put forward by the government for inclusion on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list? We'll give you a hint: It comes from Naples.
Are you humming "O sole mio" right now? If so, you got it - and whether it's Pavarotti or Caruso singing in your head, it's a melody known around the world.
And it's not just an Italian song. It is indeed deeply Neapolitan, a song belonging to the fierce, beautiful culture of Naples and sung in the Neapolitan language (which is, officially, its own distinct language, not just a dialect!).
We're definitely rooting for this UNESCO bid. Why? Because it proves Italy isn't just a postcard, but is a patchwork of proud local souls. It's an unstoppable melody that showcases the poetic power of an entire culture. It's a song so famous that it can feel like a part of all of us, but it still holds that special something that can only be found at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius.