Beneath the lively chaos, intense colors, and voices that enliven the streets of Naples, there is another world: silent, mysterious, and surprising, Underground Naples.
But what exactly is Underground Naples? It is a fascinating place made up of labyrinths of tunnels, cisterns, and galleries that tell over two thousand years of history, hidden about 40 meters below street level.
This extraordinary route dates back to Greek times, when tuff was extracted to build temples and the new Neapolis on the surface. It was expanded by the Romans, who equipped the city with road tunnels.
The cavities were then transformed into an ingenious system of cisterns for collecting rainwater, which supplied Naples for centuries. Even today, it is possible to admire wells, conduits, and tanks that bear witness to the engineering skills of the ancient inhabitants.
But these precious cavities were not only used during World War II as air-raid shelters, saving thousands of Neapolitans from bombing.
Underground Naples is not just an archaeological site, but an emotional experience. Walking through these spaces means truly understanding the deep connection between the city and its subsoil, a relationship built on adaptation, creativity, and survival. Every stone, every drop of water seems to hold a secret.
Descending into Underground Naples means looking at the city from a unique perspective: not from the top of a hill, but from its foundations. A breathtaking journey through time that makes Naples even more fascinating, enigmatic, and unforgettable.
Where is Underground Naples located?
There are several entrances to underground Naples, but the main entrance is located in the heart of the historic center, in Piazza San Gaetano, along the famous Via dei Decumani, a few steps from Spaccanapoli. It is an area that is easily accessible on foot and perfectly integrated into the modern urban fabric: just walk through a doorway and down a staircase to suddenly find yourself in another world.
This is also one of the most comprehensive tours of underground Naples, but not the only one, which includes the Greek-Roman theater, the war museum, the air-raid shelters, the catacombs, and the underground gardens.
Another entrance is located at Vico S. Anna di Palazzo, 52, in the heart of the Spanish Quarter, near Via Toledo and Piazza del Plebiscito. Among winding tunnels, the Neapolitan aqueduct, and air raid shelters, visitors can admire the ancient, silent Naples built by the ancient Greeks.
But that’s not all. Another route, albeit different from the previous ones, because it tells the story of a more modern Naples, between military engineering and urban memory, is the Bourbon Tunnel.
Built in the mid-19th century at the behest of Ferdinand II of Bourbon as a royal escape route. It includes Bourbon underground tunnels, historical deposits, vintage cars, and 20th-century artifacts.
A piece of Naples that is not millenary but equally fascinating and unmissable. It can be visited by reaching the main entrances in Piazza Cavour and Via Domenico Morelli, near Piazza del Plebiscito.
An experience not to be missed
Underground Naples is much more than just a place to visit: it is an emotional journey that allows you to truly understand the soul of the city. If Naples is made up of noise, colors, and life on the surface, its underground is made up of silence, memory, and mystery.
Descending beneath Naples means entering into its history, listening to its most ancient heartbeat, and returning to the surface with a new perspective on the city.
So don’t miss a visit to the deepest bowels of the city of Naples, where the past comes to life.
