EUPloia

Euploia is a wish for a safe journey, used by the ancient Greeks to refer to Mount Echia. From October 4 to 21, 2023, Euploia transforms into a widespread exhibition of art and design, guiding visitors through the dense urban landscape of Chiaia, from the sea to the mountain. Along the way, works and projects lead them through caves, gardens, and streets, offering a journey that blends nature and artifice with relics of ancient material culture. This culture continues to inspire contemporary artisanal and manufacturing production today. Euploia is a widespread urban initiative showcasing the outcomes of a collective effort, specifically tied to the places where, in the 7th century B.C., the first settlers quarried tuff stone and built Parthenope—the original settlement predating Neapolis. Today, these areas host significant artisanal and manufacturing activities alongside contemporary art spaces, representing a valuable heritage of "Made in Italy." The Euploia route helps rediscover the historical locations of Parthenope through three main areas: The seaside area with its ancient tuff quarries, The mid-hill zone, including the Greek necropolis discovered at Via Nicotera No. 5 and No. 10, along with the garden halfway up Rampa Caprioli, The acropolis at the summit of Mount Echia. Excavations between 1949 and 1960 in Via Nicotera uncovered pottery and funerary ornaments, confirming the presence of the Greek necropolis and providing archaeological evidence of Parthenope, whose acropolis corresponds to the top of Mount Echia. The Euploia exhibition features temporary and permanent installations scattered throughout the city, including shop windows of commercial and artisanal businesses. The initiative aims to reveal the city's ancient origins to both residents and visitors, fostering civic awareness essential for meaningful human, urban, and social regeneration. Many of the exhibited projects focus on tuff, exploring its porous and stratified nature, its symbolic significance, and its potential for sustainable recycling through upcycling. Tuff is seen as a defining element of the city’s identity—a silent witness to the ancient history of Pizzofalcone.