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Cunning, perpetually hungry and rambunctious, Pulcinella (Little Chicken) is the symbol of Neapolitans and their streetwise way of life. His signature white pyjama-like outfit, peaked hat and hook-nosed mask go back to ancient Roman burlesque, in which a bawdy clown, Macchus, was one of the stock characters. He is the prototype of Punch and similar anarchic puppets around the world.

These two characters, products of the poverty the city has historically suffered, are street urchins and ruffians. Both have been heavily romanticized by outsiders, yet their sly wisdom and wit are traits all Neapolitans seem to aspire to.

The tradition of creating sculpted tableaux of Christ’s birth (presepi ) has risen to a high art in Naples ever since the 1700s. Sculptors create scenes that expand far beyond the central event and include features of everyday life – Pulcinella may be shown slapping the current mayor, for example.

Naples has always been known as a city of music, with songs focusing nostalgically on love, the sun and the sea. O’ Sole Mio and Santa Lucia are the most renowned. Of the top musicians, Pino Daniele has gained the greatest fame outside Italy.

For many, this rubber-faced comedian was the quintessence of Italian humour. Until his death in 1967, “The Prince of Laughter” made five films a year, some of them comic masterpieces. One of his most successful was Un Turco Napoletano (A Neapolitan Turk, 1953).

De Filippo (1900–84) combined the roles of comic actor, manager and playwright. His comedies, originally in the Neapolitan dialect, revolve around the petty concerns of family life and were performed by his family troupe. His best known film is Napoli Milionaria (1950).

An indefatigable love goddess since her star began to rise in 1954 in L’Oro di Napoli (The Gold of Naples) , “La Loren” went on to become a Hollywood star.

Embodying the heart of the Neapolitan character, this actor made international waves with Il Postino (The Postman) , nominated for an Academy Award in 1995. Sadly, after the film was completed, Troisi died at the age of 41.

Greats of the golden age of Italian cinema all felt inspired to communicate their impressions of Naples. Notable films include Roberto Rossellini’s Viaggio in Italia (1953) and Francesco Rossi’s Mani Sulla Città (1963).

Naples and the coast have provided the setting for films as diverse as the fifth Star Wars instalment, which used the Royal Palace at Caserta for the queen’s abode, and The Talented Mr Ripley , wherein the protagonists soak up the sun in a beach town near the city.