Naples, Scampia's Vela down. Manfredi: 'Soon 1,250 houses'
Down goes the Vela Rossa, only the Vela Celeste remains, which will be redeveloped and become a service centre
by Vera Viola
Shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday morning, 17 December 2025, the demolition of the Vela Rossa (Red Sail) in Scampia, the last to be demolished by the City of Naples of the seven Sails that were built in the 1970s, began.
The felling started with two large mechanical pincer-armed vehicles demolishing the great Vela in pieces, in the presence of the mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi and the new president of the Campania Region Roberto Fico.
Apparently,it will take about fifteen working days to knock down the whole building, then the materials will be separated, starting with iron and concrete.
"It is a historic day for Scampia," the mayor commented, "we are in a place that for years was a negative symbol of the city and that today becomes a space of hope and opportunity. Manfredi explained that the project is proceeding in parallel between demolition and new construction. "By the end of 2026 we aim to complete four buildings with approximately 1,250 apartments, the first core of the reconstruction. By the end of 2028, the entire intervention will be completed, with a new neighbourhood equipped with services, a school, and another 500 dwellings". "The Region must be close to major urban regenerations," said Roberto Fico, the newly elected President of the Region, extolling the desire to work in close cooperation with the municipality and pointing out discontinuity with the recent past. Since last January, all the houses in the Vele Rossa, Gialla and Celeste had been vacated.
The Gialla was demolished, whilethe Celeste is to be recovered and used as a service centre.
