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From the time of Giovanna I of Anjou, crowned queen of Naples in 1343, Neapolitan goldsmiths have congregated in a dense network of narrow streets now bounded by the Corso Umberto and Via Marina, not far from the sea.
300 years later, the gold and silver-smith trade in Naples became an exclusive right of the craftsmen who worked in the Borgo Orefici (Goldsmiths’ Quarter). Today the area is as bustling as ever.
It is crammed with workshops and stores of all dimensions and pretensions. A tour of the shop windows is entertainment enough, but visitors can also see craftspeople at work in the many studios.
In the tiny Di Porzio workshop in Via Speziaria Vecchia, you can view the entire process of a ring being molded, filed, polished and finally set with stones right in front of your eyes!
Here is a neat video for more information.
– Written by Penny Ewles-Bergeron (see bio), writer, artist, … finding the many good things in Naples.
Wow! ItalianNotebook just went up a notch. Loved the video. It gave me a chance to roam the streets of Naples, and see the making of a lot of beautiful jewelry. Wonderful!
Incredible! ItalianNotebook thank you. Penny Ewles-Bergeron you are good.
“Finding the many good things in Naples” indeed! In my eleven years of living in Bella Napoli, I was ever in awe of its wonderful surprises! Loved your article, Penny!
Thanks for your kind feedback. Naples is one of those cities where each square foot of space yields hundreds of possible stories. Future subject: umbrellas!