The story
Imagine the roaring, rhythmic hum of a biplane engine cutting through the humid air of a Neapolitan summer over a century ago. You are walking along a stretch of asphalt that serves as either the first greeting or the final farewell many people receive from this city. Viale Fulco Ruffo di Calabria is much more than a simple airport thoroughfare; it is a dedicated tribute to a man who lived his life suspended between the high clouds and the ancient volcanic soil of Naples.
The man behind the name was born right here in Naples in 1884. Fulco was a member of the high nobility, a Prince of Scilla, but he is remembered not for his titles, but for his nerves of steel. When the First World War broke out, he became one of Italy’s most legendary flying aces. He was a leading figure in the Ninety-First Squadron, famously known as the Squadron of the Aces. By the time the war concluded, he was officially credited with twenty aerial victories, earning the Gold Medal of Military Valor. If you could see his aircraft today, a sleek SPAD fighter, you would see his personal emblem painted on the fuselage: a black skull and crossbones on a white field.
It is no coincidence that the city chose this specific boulevard to bear his name. This road is the primary umbilical cord connecting Naples International Airport at Capodichino to the rest of the world. While the exact year the city council chose to dedicate this specific stretch remains an elusive detail in the local archives, the symbolism is unmistakable. An aviator born in Naples stands guard at the very gateway where modern flight meets the city’s historic heart. Fulco’s legacy even extended into European royalty; his daughter, Paola, eventually became the Queen of the Belgians.
Today, as you walk, the rhythm of the street is dictated by the pulse of travel. This is a transit corridor where the faint scent of jet fuel occasionally mingles with the distant, salty breeze of the Mediterranean. You are surrounded by the machinery of movement—the glass facades of airport facilities, rows of rental cars, and a constant stream of taxis ferrying travelers toward the city center. This area has been a hub for flight since 1910, starting as a simple airfield before evolving into the international hub it is today.
As you continue your walk, take a moment to look toward the horizon beyond the terminal buildings. You will likely see a plane either climbing steeply or descending gracefully toward the runway. As the sound of the engines grows, try to imagine Fulco in his open-cockpit biplane, feeling the wind against his face and navigating these same southern Italian currents without the help of modern radar, simply finding his way home to the city that eventually carved his name into the earth.