The history of the Maradona mural in Naples A place of worship and pilgrimage

The mural in Naples dedicated to Diego Armando Maradona is not only a symbol of the city and of football history, but also one of the clearest examples of football tourism. A match becomes the perfect excuse to explore the host city and visit places that celebrate the sport. An immersive experience which, in Naples, means witnessing the devotion to the Diez. After all, the stadium where Napoli plays its home games was renamed the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium almost immediately after his death on November 25, 2020. Tributes to Maradona are everywhere, but the most famous is undoubtedly the mural in the Quartieri Spagnoli, painted on the façade of a building in Via Emanuele de Deo, 60.

Who painted it?

The artist behind the mural is Mario Filardi, who in 1990 completed the portrait of Maradona in just two nights and three days to celebrate Napoli’s second Scudetto title. Working from a small photograph, Filardi managed to gather materials thanks to a fundraiser organized by the head of Napoli’s ultras. The ultras also helped him physically, lighting up the wall with their car headlights at night so he could paint. The mural was unveiled amid great celebration, but as Napoli’s fortunes declined in the following years—culminating in the club’s bankruptcy in 2004 and its restart from Serie C—the artwork was gradually forgotten and faded away. In 1998, a window shutter installed right across Maradona’s face caused further damage. In 2016 and 2017, two restoration projects were carried out by Salvatore Iodice and Francisco Bosoletti, with Bosoletti completely redrawing Maradona’s face.

From mural to place of worship

When news broke of Maradona’s death in 2020, the mural became the first place where fans gathered to pay tribute. Since then, it has turned into a true pilgrimage site. A sacred place where Napoli supporters, admirers of the Pibe de Oro, and curious visitors alike come to admire the mural and honor his memory. Unofficial estimates suggest that each year at least six million people pass through Via Emanuele de Deo. Napoli’s Scudetto victories in 2022 and 2024 have only amplified the aura surrounding the site.

It’s hard to deny the magnetism that this mural holds for anyone connected to football. It’s not just fans who make the pilgrimage. Visiting teams often stop by too, and even Napoli players and staff look for quiet moments to experience it. Antonio Conte, the club’s current manager, visited it at night with his family, while Kvicha Kvaratskhelia made his own late-night visit for a final farewell before joining PSG. Because this mural is more than a painting, it’s a global symbol of Naples and a powerful reminder of the unbreakable bond between Maradona, the city, and Napoli.