Scampìa

Coordinates: 40°54′07.83″N 14°14′09.91″E / 40.9021750°N 14.2360861°E / 40.9021750; 14.2360861

Scampìa is a modern suburb in the north of Naples. The population is about 80,000.

Geography

The district lies in the far north of Naples. To the south are the suburbs of Piscinola-Marianella, Miano and Secondigliano.

History

Scampia was built as a bedroom suburb in 1960s. The area was mostly developed in the 1970s and 1980s, with huge, high-rise residential blocks, in particular after the 1980 earthquake with construction of housing for displaced Neapolitans. Huge apartment complexes, wide boulevards and a massive park were built, without commercial districts or entertainment venues. With 50% unemployment, the area has a very high crime rate, with heroin and cocaine sold, and used openly, in the streets.

Large metal gates on some of the walkways and stairs in the blocks of flats have been put there, not by the council, but by the Italian crime syndicate, so they can be locked by drug pushers as they flee the police.