Who is Pulcinella?

On the Tombola Illustrata box there is an unmistakable character, with a black mask and a long nose. It is Pulcinella, the most authentic and contradictory soul of Naples.

A SYMBOL OF NAPLES

Pulcinella was born in the Commedia dell’Arte, but he still lives on, in local expressions, gestures, and the Neapolitan imagination.
He’s both comic and tragic: lazy, hungry, irreverent, yet clever and always able to get by.

With his dark mask and long nose, Pulcinella represents the common people who endure hardship with lightness.
He laughs at the powerful, at injustice, at bad luck - with sharp wit and a bitter smile.

The "SECRET" OF PULCINELLA

Ever heard the phrase “Pulcinella’s secret”? It means a secret that everyone already knows.
In the old plays, Pulcinella would always promise to keep quiet… and then spill the beans anyway.
That’s why, for centuries, his name has been tied to the art of not keeping secrets.

PULCINELLA TODAY

On the cover of Tombola Illustrata, Pulcinella appears in a contemporary version.
No longer just the black-and-white servant, he’s now a modern figure who, like Neapolitan culture itself, doesn’t stand still. He changes, adapts, evolves… but stays true to his spirit.
Pulcinella is Naples that laughs and resists. A character who, with a joke and a grimace, can speak hard truths.