Jorit's giant Maradona mural in Naples faces demolition for urban renewal

The largest mural of Diego Maradona in the world, painted by street artist Jorit (Ciro Cerullo) in the San Giovanni a Teduccio district of Naples, will be demolished starting February 2, 2024, as part of a €106 million urban regeneration project funded by Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The mural, created in 2017 on the Taverna del Ferro housing complex—known as "the Bronx"—depicts Maradona as a "human god" alongside Niccolò, an autistic boy. The project, designed by architect Pietro Barucci under the 1981 law for post-earthquake reconstruction, originally provided 360 apartments in ten buildings. After decades of neglect and safety concerns, the entire complex will be razed and replaced with eco-sustainable housing, common areas, and a public park. Jorit expressed understanding but suggested preserving the Maradona section as a historical symbol, similar to the Vele di Scampia. Despite earlier assurances from Deputy Mayor Laura Lieto in 2022 that the mural would stay, current plans call for its destruction, though four new murals by Jorit may be installed on vertical structures at the new site. Residents and activists, including Rosaria Cordone of the Taverna del Ferro Committee, have protested, demanding preservation of the artworks.