The Woodcarver

Handicrafts have long been the beating heart of traditional production in Naples, Italy - an embodiment of both artistry and cultural identity. Today, this centuries-old craftsmanship is slowly fading, overtaken by the demands of overtourism and globalization.

Umberto Cervo is one of the last woodcarvers operating in the city. In his workshop, located in a hidden spot inside a palace on Via Costantinopoli, this 85-year-old man, each day, decides with passion and determination to keep his craft alive and guard it against the tide of mass production. For Umberto, woodcarving is a calling more than a craft, and a living testament to Naples’ rich cultural history. His workshop, with its weathered surfaces and timeworn tools, stands as an emblem of authenticity in a world increasingly defined by uniformity. The fight to preserve craftsmanship is not just about protecting a tradition; it’s about safeguarding the essence of what makes us human. If we allow the unstoppable tide of homogenization and the decline of quality to continue unchecked, we risk erasing the very soul of our cities and cultures.