Pulcinella emerged in the early 17th century as a mask of the Commedia dell'Arte, performed by traveling actors who performed in the squares and theaters of the main Italian and European cities.
It was the actor Silvio Fiorillo, in the first decades of the seventeenth century, who gave life to the figure of Pulcinella that would cross centuries evolving over time. The Pulcinella mask, as we know it today, was still embryonic, with a bicorn hat, beard and mustache, an image far from the iconic current representation with the characteristic "sugar loaf". But it is in the nineteenth century that Antonio Petito, with his creativity, shaped the modern Pulcinella costume, giving it a new and recognizable face.

However, Pulcinella's roots reach even more remote eras. The theories about his origins are many and fascinating. Some trace it back to a curious "Pulcinello", a chicken with a prominent nose. Others tell the story of Puccio d'Aniello, a farmer from Acerra in the 1600s who became the jester of a passing troupe of strolling players in his village. And there are those who, like Margarethe Bieber, trace the roots back to the 4th century BC, linking Pulcinella to Maccus, a character from the Roman Atellanae, a very popular type of show in ancient Rome that we could compare to today's vernacular or dialectal theater, especially appreciated by a low-class audience.

While Pulcinella's origins are intertwined with the narratives of the past, the name itself unwinds through different theories. From the alleged portrait by Ludovico Carracci of a farmer named Puccio d'Aniello who inspired Silvio Fiorillo, to a name derived from the intrinsic hermaphroditism of the character, with a fascinating link to the non-reproductive chick.
Other voices narrate the corruption of a Campanian surname, Pulcinello or Polsinelli, stating that the character embodies the link between man and woman, between the stupid and cunning, between city and countryside, a dualism that permeates the rich pagan-Christian definition of Neapolitan popular culture, still persistent today.

Originally portrayed as a clumsy and clumsy servant, over time Pulcinella became the symbol of Naples and its irreverent and unconventional spirit. He embodies the spirit of the people and the urban proletariat, with their primordial instincts and ability to mock the powerful and authorities.
While living actors take Pulcinella to the stages, in the squares of Naples small cloth and cardboard puppets enact his adventures. They are the protagonists of the "guarattelle", popular open-air puppet shows.
The theatrical plots leave room for improvisation on the spot, based on the audience's reaction. Pulcinella is no longer a servant, but a sly and irreverent "stray dog" dealing with everyday life. Thanks to the percussive stick and the metallic voice given by the "pivetta" (an instrument placed in the puppeteer's mouth to give the puppet a characteristic shrill voice), his deeds take on surreal and dreamlike hues. The guarattelle keep alive the figure of Pulcinella as a symbol of the Neapolitan spirit made of cleverness, unconventionality and ability to overcome the powerful by cunning. An archetype that still survives today in the collective imagination.

The origin of the well-known expression "Pulcinella's Secret" is shrouded in uncertainty, but draws its roots from the rich soil of the commedia dell'arte, finding inspiration in Pulcinella's cheeky and witty character. This character, famous for his propensity to ridicule the powerful and reveal the intricate backgrounds of the situations confided to him, embodies the lively irony that characterizes theater of art. The commedia dell'arte, based on the re-presentation of codified situations and characters, gave actors the freedom to improvise within well-defined and recognizable narrative frameworks for the audience. The actors, by impersonating fixed types, moved within a pre-established plot, drawing inspiration from consolidated scenarios.
"Pulcinella's Secret" represented one of these intriguing canovacci. In this plot, a character confides a secret to Pulcinella, asking him to swear that the revelation will remain strictly confined between them. However, our beloved Pulcinella, more or less innocently, breaks the oath by running to reveal the secret to someone else. The situation is cyclically repeated, involving various characters, until finally everyone on stage, including the audience, knows the secret but pretends to be unaware of what happened.
This scenario lends itself perfectly to creating comic misunderstandings, exploiting the collective deception and the perpetual circulation of a secret that everyone knows but no one admits to knowing. "Pulcinella's Secret" thus becomes a playful and entertaining element of the commedia dell'arte, a reflection of the bold humor and irreverence that characterize this theatrical genre.

At the intersection of Via dei Tribunali and Vico Fico al Purgatorio ad Arco, stands a majestic bronze statue of Pulcinella, generously donated to the city by Lello Esposito, a skilled sculptor and storyteller of art. Despite appearances of an immutable presence, the statue took its place in 2012, occupying the place where an elderly lady, beloved by all, had run her picturesque fruit and vegetable stall for decades.
The work, one meter and twenty high, rises on a solid stone pedestal, giving an aura of permanence to its features. In the heart of the historic center, the statue of Pulcinella has become an iconic landmark, a favorite subject for photographs capturing its presence in the urban fabric.

Over time the prominent nose has lost its original dark tone because it is continuously caressed by all passers-by, a sign of continuous affection from anyone who wants to bring themselves a bit of good luck. This detail underlines the affective bond that Neapolitans have developed with the work, transforming the statue into a totem of positive omens.

It is not the only creation by Lello Esposito paying homage to Pulcinella; another example of the artist's work is present at the Salvator Rosa metro station, confirming Esposito's ability to shape art that blends with the history and soul of the city.