"Mare Fuori": interesting facts you did not know

Mare Fuori is certainly the most popular series of the moment, an unprecedented success with critics and audiences for a Rai production that has also managed to conquer Gen Z with this project directed by Ivan Silvestrini. The numbers are record-breaking: 6.7 million viewers in the first two seasons watched a total of 21 million hours, while Mare Fuori 3 has reached 135 million views on RaiPlay. The word-of-mouth effect and the availability of seasons 1, 2 and 3 on Netflix are just some of the ingredients of this great success that is known to continue at least until season 6. We are confident that the popularity will be confirmed with Mare Fuori 4 as well, available in preview from February 1 on RaiPlay with the first 6 episodes and free-to-air on Rai2 from February 14 with two episodes every Wednesday in prime time. On the same date the remaining 6 episodes will be released on RaiPlay.

The strength of the story, the captivating script full of twists and turns where prison drama and love story come together, the believability of the language and the skill of the very young actors have turned the young adult audience (but not only) into a passionate fan base that follows every episode and every detail about the actors. Surely everyone knows by now that the story centres on the inmates of the fictional Naples Juvenile Detention Centre, loosely based on Nisida Prison, but then what? Where are most of the scenes shot? Which actors are also involved with each other in reality? Will there be more seasons?

Here are some interesting facts you (might) not know about Mare Fuori.

The IPM in Naples does not exist

The prison where the events of Mare Fuori take place is inspired by the Nisida juvenile detention centre, but the place does not exist. The main setting of the series is the Naval Base in Naples, an elongated, square, Pompeian red building on the Molo San Vincenzo in Via Acton with a maxi façade overlooking the waters of the Gulf. The interiors are the result of a studio reconstruction involving the director of the feature film, Ivan Silvestrini, and above all the set designer Antonio Farina and his team.

The title song is sung by one of the actors

O Mar For, the theme song of the series is now a hit. It is sung by Matteo Paolillo, one of the main actors in the role of Edoardo, who also composed it and performed it live on stage at the Sanremo Festival 2023 on Friday evening, 10 February. «I wanted to remember the sea in difficult times. Then this song spread like wildfire and gave hope and back came a lot of love,» the actor wrote on Instagram, partly explaining the concept of the song. In relation to the plot of the series, the sea outside the song becomes a metaphor for a freedom that is temporarily denied by imprisonment. The true sea on which the protagonists sail is the inner sea, which consists of personal growth, redemption and encounters that will profoundly affect their lives. Waiting to return to the outside world.

Two pairs of actors are father and son in real life

Many people think that, given their shared last name, Clotilde Esposito and Maria Esposito are sisters, but this is not true. There are, however, two other actors in the cast who are relatives on screen and off. They are Nicolo Galasso, who gives the face to Gaetano O'Pirucchio, and Domenico Galasso, who is and plays his father. Galasso senior is a well-known theater and TV actor (as is also Nicolò's wife and mother, Marta Bucciarelli) who has participated in several TV shows such as Don Matteo and Squadra Antimafia. Moreover, Vincenzo Pirozzi alias Camorra boss Antonio Valletta is in reality the father of Giuseppe Pirozzi, who plays Micciarella from the third season of the series TV onwards. In short, two real artistic families!

There are at least three more or less famous singers in the cast

The cast is full of eclectic talent, many of whom have parallel music careers, such as Matteo Paolillo, aka Icaro, who sings O Mar For, the show's theme song. Among them is a newcomer in the third season, Giulia Crazy J, played by Clara Soccini, who makes her debut as an actress in the Rai project, while she has so far alternated between modelling and singing. So much so that she is the winner of Sanremo Giovani 2023 and soon we will see her on the Ariston stage for Sanremo 2024, where she will perform the song Diamanti Grezzi. In Mare Fuori she is a trapper willing to do anything to achieve her goals, but in real life her sound combines contemporary pop with urban influences. Her on-screen mother is also a famous artist, Chiara Iezzi from Paola e Chiara, who made a surprise appearance in one of the new episodes of Mare Fuori 3. Finally, it is impossible not to mention Don Salvatore Ricci, who has the face of Raiz, born Gennaro Della Volpe, voice and historical leader of Almamegretta, with whom he recorded nine records from 1993 to 2016 and left his mark on the Italian music scene of the 1990s. After the group disbanded, Raiz continued his career as a solo artist and took up acting, appearing in several films and television projects.

Love has blossomed several times on the set

It is rumoured that a couple from fiction also exists in real life. Rumour has it that the love between Valentina Romani and Nicolas Maupas, who play Naditza and Filippo, has actually blossomed. Falling in love with his series partner seems to be nothing new for Nicolas, as he has also had an affair with Ludovica Coscione, Teresa in the series. Cupid's arrow has also hit Maria Esposito and Antonio Orefice, alias Rosa Ricci and Totò. This is evidenced by the posts on their Instagram profiles and the fact that the two walked the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival together.

One of the actors has a love story with a dancer

According to gossip, the heart of Massimiliano Caiazzo, who plays the role of Carmine in the TV series Mare Fuori, beats for Elena D'Amario. The clues to this can be found in their respective social profiles. Fans of the actor and the former Amici dancer are overjoyed and hope to see them together soon, perhaps even on the big screen.