Diego Maradona has died aged 60. Photographer Paolo Vezzoli discovered the cult of the ‘God of Naples’ 30 years after Napoli’s last Scudetto win
Main image: A votive shrine dedicated to Maradona, the golden boy and Argentinian champion of Naples.
Wed 25 Nov 2020 12.55 EST First published on Fri 30 Oct 2020 08.03 EDT
Memorabilia from fans from all over the world at a shrine in the Largo degli Artisti square in Naples’ Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter) Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A vintage photo by the street artist San Spiga of Maradona doing the ‘corte de manga’, an obscene gesture, after a Napoli game Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
The famous altar of the ‘miraculous hair of Maradona’ from 1991 on display at Bar Nilo. It has become a place of worship for fans from all over the world. The owner found a lock of Maradona’s hair on a seat headrest after an Alitalia flight in 1985, immediately making a relic out of it Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A view of giant murals created by street artist Jorit in the Bronx district includes one of Maradona the ‘Human God’ Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Lucia Rispoli at the ‘Club Napoli Saverio Silvio Vignati - The story continues’ house museum. Lucia, who is 75 and has 11 children, was Maradona’s cook and housekeeper during his time in Naples. She and her husband Saverio Silvio, who was a caretaker at the San Paolo stadium for over 30 years and after whom the fan club is named, are like family to Maradona. Maradona calls Rispoli ‘my Neapolitan mum’ Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Statuettes modelling the most significant jerseys of Maradona’s playing career: Argentina, Boca Juniors and Napoli Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A picture of Maradona smoking a cigar next to a print of the beloved city patron saint San Gennaro inside a grocery store. His controversial off-field life is also celebrated Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A mural of Maradona during the historic 1989-90 Serie A season, when Napoli won their second Scudetto, dominates the square of Largo degli Artisti. Mount Vesuvius is partially visible beyond the city Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Prints and shirts related to the various stages of El Pibe de Oro’s [the Golden Boy’s] career dominate the Largo degli Artisti square, in front of the famous Maradona mural. Other beloved Neapolitan icons of football, cinema and music such as Marek Hamsík, Dries Mertens, Totò, Massimo Troisi, Sophia Loren and Pino Daniele are also displayed, but Maradona always takes centre stage Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
The entrance of the ‘Club Napoli Saverio Silvio Vignati’ house museum in the Miano district. The little basement gathers thousands of pieces of memorabilia donated by Maradona himself as well as from teams, footballers and supporters from all over the world. Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Prints of Maradona’s Napoli era (with teammates Bruno Giordano and Careca in the central picture) displayed alongside symbols of the Neapolitan culture as Pulcinella, a pizza maker, Totò and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies’ coat of arms at a restaurant in the Quartieri Spagnoli Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sasi, a hairdresser, wearing an azzurro apron at his salon in Vico Due Porte a Toledo. The apron is styled on the historical Napoli jersey from the 1987-88 season, probably the most iconic ever, decorated by the double tricolour cockades of the Scudetto and Coppa Italia won the year before Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A neighborhood greengrocer in front of his family’s historic shop in the Quartieri Spagnoli. Holy prayer cards, icons, sacred statues and paintings have been a constant presence in the poorer districts of the city Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
The owner of a wine bar in a Quartieri Spagnoli alley displays tattoos of Maradona and Totò on his arm. A labyrinth of narrow streets, tall 16th-century buildings and balconies, originally built to house Spanish garrisons, the district is the beating heart of Naples. In recent years it has become a destination for tourists fascinated by its crumbling buildings and authetic character Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Photographic prints, shirts, scarves and gadgets at the bar entirely dedicated to Maradona and his time at Naples, at Largo degli Artisti square Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Antonio ‘Bostìk’, a barman, posing in front of the Maradona mural, shows the photo in which as a young fan, he approached the captain on the sidelines Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
