In these pages, dictated by an "affection for old Neapolitan memories"—and accompanied by a series of beautiful vintage illustrations—Benedetto Croce retraces some of the most evocative and intriguing tales of popular tradition, from the legend of Colapesce to the illicit affairs of Queen Joanna.
With lively curiosity, he searches chronicles and archives for confirmation of an exemplary case of justice linked to the Arch of Sant’Eligio, and for traces of the Well of Santa Sofia, which aided the Aragonese in conquering the city. He investigates the exotic crocodile of Castelnuovo, the mysterious palaces rumored to be haunted by spirits, and enigmatic inscriptions. He also explores the figure of Prince Raimondo di Sangro and other mythical personas who, for centuries, have belonged to the history, the streets, and the vivid imagination of the people of Naples.
Furthermore, the book features interesting pages dedicated to another enduring mythology—that of "Bourbon Naples." With intellectual honesty, Croce dispels the more critical shadows surrounding the reign of Charles of Bourbon, concluding with an unexpected and bustling "popular" portrait of Neapolitan customs and traditions from the mid-nineteenth century.