A pregnant woman under a statue of the Virgin Mary, a man carrying a gigantic crucifix on the back of a moped and a pensioner with startling turquoise eyes.
These are just some of the quirky characters captured on film by British photographer Sam Gregg in Naples.
Sam says he took this extraordinary series of images in the Italian city to offset the negative reputation it has gained for poverty, crime and gang violence and its association with the Camorra mafia.
He called the collection ‘See Naples and Die’ – a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Italian Journey written in 1786. The German poet thought the city was so enchanting that any visitor would be tempted to stay for life.
Sam says: ‘I am far from discrediting the issue of the Camorra as it remains a real and pressing concern, I am merely attempting to humanise the areas’ inhabitants, showing that those who are effected are vibrant, tangible souls before they’re political units.’
The photos were all taken in the central Naples areas of Forcella, Quartieri Spagnoli, Rione Sanità and Santa Lucia.
Young men sunbathe on the beach in the Rione Sanità area of central Naples. Photographer Sam Gregg captured a series of stunning images of local residents to capture the essence of the much-maligned Italian city which is often linked to crime
Families enjoy the sun on a makeshift beach near La Colonna Spezzata (the broken column) in the historic centre of Naples. The column was placed there in the 19th century to remember all those lost at sea
A grim-faced woman poses outside her home in the Spanish quarter of Naples. Photographer Sam Gregg captured a series of images of quirky characters in the Italian city
A nun dressed all in white shuffles past a bridal shop with wedding dresses on display in central Naples
A young man points his pistol tattoo at his head with Mount Vesuvius in the background. Naples has gained a negative reputation over the years for its association with gang violence and the Camorra mafia. But photographer Sam Gregg says the city has much more to offer and conditions have improved immensely over the past decade
A member of the ‘femminielli’ transgender community in Naples who are part of the traditional Neapolitan culture of the city which is said to have its roots in ancient Greek rituals as well as early Christianity
A girl poses with her doll in the Spanish quarter of Naples. Photographer Sam Gregg has captured a series of images of day-to-day life in the Italian city to explore the lives of ordinary people away from the stereotypes of crime and mafia
An expectant mother holds her baby bump under an image of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus in Naples, Italy
A sharp-suited resident poses in the Forcella district, the historic centre of the city which is rich in art, history and culture. The area has been a place of great importance and mysticism to Neapolitans since the times of the ancient Greeks
A Neapolitan man in a vest poses with an intensely serious expression next to the seafront in his home city of Naples
A deeply-religious grandmother poses solemnly with a statuette of the Virgin Mary at her home in Naples. The Italian city is covered in Catholic iconography with images of Christ and his mother on every street corner and in every home
A Neapolitan grandmother with bright turquoise eyes poses in silhouette at her home in Naples, Italy. The woman, called Rita, is one of the characters captured by photographer Sam Gregg in his series of images capturing the essence of life in the city
A man struggles to carry a huge crucifix on the back of a scooter. The cross was being delivered to a church in the Rione Sanità area of Naples. Giant crucifixes can be seen all over this deeply religious city, but not usually on the back of mopeds
A grandmother sits in the faint light of her kitchen at home in Naples, Italy. Photographer Sam Gregg wandered the city capturing images of its local residents to portray the day-to-day lives of ordinary people away from the negative stereotypes of violent mafiosi. Many complete strangers like this woman invited him into their homes to take their photos
An English bull terrier looks through a glass door in the Spanish quarter of Naples where photographer Sam Gregg captured the daily life of the Italian city. Sam wants to improve its image with this series of photos from the heart of the city
A man and a small dog are silhouetted in the sunlight on a steep stone-stepped street in the Spanish quarter of Naples. The district was created in the 16th century to house Spanish garrisons brought in to quell revolts from the Neapolitan population
A youth poses with his pit bull terrier under an image of Jesus Christ outside his home in the Spanish quarter of Naples
A Naples resident inside his cramped bedroom with the walls adorned in Catholic imagery and tributes to reggae legend Bob Marley. Photographer Sam Gregg gained the trust of many locals who invited him into their homes as he explored the city
A Naples resident sits under one of the city’s many shrines. Catholic iconography can be seen all over the streets of the city
Graffiti sprayed on a wall saying ‘Naples is not Italy’ next to an anarchy symbol. Photographer Sam Gregg says this captures a widely-felt sentiment that the city stands apart from the rest of the country and doesn’t really belong. He says: ‘Neapolitans are fiercely proud with many believing they are not a part of Italy, and they are sometimes treated like that.’
A woman rests her head on her friend’s shoulder in the Rione Sanità district of central Naples. Photographer Sam Gregg said he wanted to capture the essence of the city’s ordinary residents in his series of photos called ‘See Naples and Die’
A little boy is told off by his mother under an image of Christ on the cross in the Spanish quarter of central Naples
A young couple pose with their arms around each other in the Rione Sanità district of central Naples, in Italy
Catholic iconography is revered in the deeply-religious city of Naples. But this statue of Jesus spotted by photographer Sam Gregg is being used as a handy holder for a loose wire wrapped around its neck
A torn and tattered poster of Naples’ beloved comic actor Antonio De Curtis – nicknamed Totò – who died aged 69 in 1967. The actor, comedian, writer, poet, singer and lyricist is seen by many as the most popular Italian performer of all time. This peeling poster was spotted outside his old home in the Rione Sanità district of the city
Two young boys play in the sand next to a graffiti-covered wall in Naples. The beach in the centre of the city is near to La Colonna Spezzata (the broken column) placed there in the 19th century to remember all those lost at sea
A father with his two daughters shows off his tattoo of Jesus that covers his entire back in Naples. Catholic iconography can be seen all over the city and religious tattoos are extremely popular
A priest gazes towards the heavens under statue of Christ on the cross in his local church in the Spanish quarter of Naples. The city has almost 450 churches ranging from tiny chapels to some of the most important buildings in the city
A Neapolitan resident poses at home in his Sunday best in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary. Naples remains a deeply religious city with Catholic iconography displayed prominently in the streets and people’s homes
A family relax in the Spanish quarter of Naples as the mother hands over a bunch of chili peppers – one of the symbols of the city. Garlands of red chili peppers can be found hanging all over the streets of Naples to bring luck and ward off evil spirits
A bearded man shows off his religious tattoos, including a weeping Jesus Christ, as he poses bear-chested in a flower shop. Naples is a deeply religious city and images of Catholic iconography can be seen all over the streets and people’s homes