Gennarino Scugnizzo

The bronze statue at the eastern end of Capri would be easy to miss if you didn’t know where to look. Known as Gennarino Scugnizzo, he sits on a large boulder called Lo Capo, where he waves at passing tourists and islanders on boats as they head to Marina Grande in the Gulf of Naples, across the Strait of Sorrento. (It is also called the Statue of Welcome.)

Gennarino Scigunizzo di Capri is a young Neapolitan boy, a scugnizzo, which is a colloquial term for street urchin, living and sleeping on the city streets. But Gennarino found a home on Capri. It is tradition to greet him as you pass, whether arriving or leaving the island. Especially, he wants to entice women that pass on boats to stop on the island. You are supposed to wave at him to avoid bad luck and have good luck as you visit Capri. Yell strongly, “Ciao, Gennarino!” and your outlook will be bright that day.