Piazza San Gaetano, Spanish Quarters, Rione SanitĂ
Naples Underground in a nutshell
🕸️Types of experiences
Tunnels, ruins, catacombs
⏲️Recommended duration
1.5-2 hours per site
🚶🏽‍♀️Visitors per year
Over 1.5 million collectively
đźš«Unsuitable for
Infants, people with major mobility issues
Naples Underground is more than a series of subterranean passages, it's a hidden part of the city's history. There are five main sites you can access. The Napoli Sotterranea and the Spanish Quarters Underground are manmade tunnels that hold integral parts of the aqueducts and cisterns that supplied the city with water, as well as bomb shelters during the Second World War. Neapolis Sotterrata are the ruins of a Roman marketplace beneath the San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica. The Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso are burial sites where early Christians found sanctuary and expressed their faith through intricate frescoes and mosaics. Here's what you can expect to see inside each of them.
What to see inside the official Napoli Sotterranea?
This authorized route beneath Piazza San Gaetano tells an exciting story, starting from Greek tuff quarrying to innovative hypogeum gardens.
Greek Roman Theater
The Graeco-Roman theater, also known as the Theater of Nerone, connects visitors to a typical Neapolitan apartment. From here, you can view the rooms once used by Emperor Nero as his private dressing room.
War Museum
The underground tunnel networks were used as a bomb shelter by close to 40,000 people, during the Second World War. The Underground Naples War Museum collects and preserves documents and objects relating to the war, including bunk beds, forgotten weapons, and war machinery.
Co.R.E. Gallery
At the entrance of the Naples Underground, you will find the Co.R.E. Gallery, a contemporary art gallery. Visiting the museum offers the opportunity to discover the most talented and innovative artists in contemporary art research.
Hypogeum Gardens
The warm temperatures and humidity inside the tunnels coupled with accumulated water from those cisterns have grown some interesting foliage 35 meters below the ground. It was established during Expo Milano, 2015, “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, with the sole motive of checking if plants can grow in such inhospitable conditions.
Tufello Wine
A unique wine produced in the tuffaceous cavities of Underground Naples, the Tufello Wine is a must-try while you are in Naples. The tuffaceous rock acts as a natural insulator, creating a temperature and humidity that is ideal for aging wine. This process results in a wine with a distinct flavor and aroma.
What to see inside the Spanish Quarters Underground?
A set of tunnels beneath a historic neighborhood that shows the expansion of the Neapolis Aqueduct, and cultural changes during rapid urbanization.
Neapolis Aqueduct
Dug more than 2,500 years ago, these were used to store and supply water in the past. Sewer tunnels, rainwater harvesting cisterns, and water caverns are common sightings inside the Neapolitan tunnels.
WWII air raid shelters
Part of the Neapolis Aqueduct was converted into air raid shelters during the war. The preserved artifacts and graffiti offer poignant insights into life at that time.
Tuff stone quarries
The underground tunnels were originally excavated as quarries for tuff, a volcanic stone used in building Naples. These vast cavities highlight the city's architectural foundations.
What to see inside the Neapolis Sotterrata & San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica?
Unpack layers of history at these underground ruins, from the Greek agora to the Roman macellum and the Christian church built atop them.
Roman market ruins
Find everything from taverns to treasuries lining the structured roads and forum 10 meters underground.
Sala Sisto V
The Swabian cloister lies in the lower right corner, leading to the grand Sixtus V room, once a friars' refectory. Luigi Rodriguez's early 17th-century frescoes adorn the vaults, exuding an austere yet captivating ambiance.
Museum
The new museum, which spans three floors above the courtyard, chronicles San Lorenzo's history, from classical archaeology to charts of historic shipping routes linking Naples to Magna Grecia and the Roman Empire.
What to see inside the Catacombs of Naples?
Discover early Christian frescoes and richly decorated tombs at these Catacombs situated in the Rione SanitĂ .
Fresco of Madonna della SanitĂ
San Gaudioso
Created in the 5th-6th century, it is the oldest depiction of the Virgin Mary in Campania.
Tombs of the 17th- century nobility
San Gaudioso
Noble and clergy tombs followed an interesting process: skulls were showcased within ambulatory walls, while their bodies were frescoed, often adorned in attire and tools symbolizing their status. It was often painted for free by Giovanni Balducci in order to secure himself an aristocratic burial.
Fresco of Pascentius
San Gaudioso
This painting depicts Pascentius at the time of his death being welcomed by the Apostle Peter and other saints.
Baptismal font
San Gennaro
The grand lower vestibule, with soaring 6-meter-high ceilings, features a magnificent baptismal font commissioned by Bishop Paul II, who sought refuge in the Catacombs of San Gennaro during the 8th-century iconoclastic conflicts.
Crypt of the Bishops
San Gennaro
This crypt holds the tombs of the city’s bishops, vivid frescoes, and mosaics honoring early Christian leaders.
Evolution of Naples Underground
1. **The Greeks
- In the 4th century BCE, the ancient Greeks established the foundations of Naples Underground when they quarried tuff stone (a volcanic rock) to construct the city of Neapolis.
- These quarries left behind vast cavities that formed the early network of tunnels filled with chambers and cisterns.
2. **The Romans
- From the 1st century BCE to 4th century CE, the Romans expanded the underground network by engineering a sophisticated system of aqueducts and cisterns to supply water to the growing city.
- They also constructed underground structures, including marketplaces and theaters, some of which are preserved beneath modern Naples.
3. **Early Christians
- After the decline of Roman infrastructure, early Christians repurposed parts of the underground as burial sites and places of worship throughout the 5th to 10th centuries CE.
- This led to the creation of the Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso, which became significant religious and cultural landmarks. It also led to the construction of San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica over the Neapolis Sotterrata ruins.
4. **Bourbon Engineers
- Under the Bourbon monarchy in the 18th and 19th centuries, engineers expanded and modernized the underground network to address urban needs.
- They enhanced drainage systems, built new cisterns, and improved access to water for Naples’ growing population.
Each group’s contributions collectively shaped Naples Underground into the complex and historic network it is today.
- 4th century BCE: The underground network began when ancient Greeks quarried tuff stone to build the city of Neapolis and store water, creating vast cavities beneath the surface.
- 1st century BCE – 4th century CE: The Romans transformed these cavities into a sophisticated system of aqueducts and cisterns, supplying fresh water to the city. They also constructed structures like a macellum (marketplace) under San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica and a theater in Napoli Sotterranea.
- 5th–10th century CE: Following the decline of Roman infrastructure, parts of the underground were repurposed as burial sites and places of worship for early Christians, leading to the development of the Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso.
- 16th century: During Spanish rule, new cisterns and drainage systems were constructed, particularly in the Spanish Quarters Underground, to meet the needs of the growing population.
- 1939–1945: During World War II, the underground tunnels served as air-raid shelters, providing refuge for thousands of Neapolitans during heavy bombings.
- 1970s–2000s: Archaeological rediscovery, tourism and preservation works begin. Regular tours and exploratory endeavors take place as the vast underground tunnels are uncovered.
The Naples Underground is an integral part of the Historic Centre of Naples, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. This recognition highlights the cultural, historical, and architectural significance of the underground structures as part of the city's long history. Key aspects of this recognition include:
- Cultural continuity: The underground network reflects over 2,500 years of continuous human activity, showcasing contributions from the Greeks, Romans, early Christians, and later periods.
- Architectural ingenuity: The aqueducts, catacombs, and quarries demonstrate advanced engineering and adaptation over centuries, serving both practical and spiritual purposes.
- Historical significance: As part of the larger historic center, the underground reflects Naples’ evolution as a cultural and economic hub in the Mediterranean.
- Preservation of heritage: The catacombs, subterranean theaters, and shelters from World War II preserve stories of resilience and ingenuity, adding depth to the city’s historical narrative.
Frequently asked questions about the Naples Underground
The Naples Underground is unique because it reflects over 2,500 years of continuous use, starting with Greek quarrying, Roman aqueducts, and early Christian burial sites, to Spanish-era cisterns and WWII bomb shelters. Its layers mirror the city's complex history and evolution.
The tunnels and subterranean storage systems of the Naples Underground reach a depth of up to 40 meters beneath the city's surface.
The Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso were specifically used as Christian burial and worship sites, featuring frescoes and mosaics that reflect early Christian art. In contrast, most other underground spaces served civic, military, or residential purposes.
Many parts of the underground, such as Napoli Sotterranea and the Spanish Quarters, were repurposed as air-raid shelters. Thousands of residents sought refuge here during Allied bombings, leaving behind graffiti and artifacts that capture wartime life.
At the Neapolis Sotterrata, you can see a preserved Roman macellum (marketplace), complete with shops and storage areas, offering insights into the commercial and social life of ancient Neapolis.
The underground provided water through cisterns and aqueducts, acted as a refuge during wars, and influenced burial practices through catacombs. It was an essential part of the city's infrastructure, connecting directly to homes and shaping daily routines. Learn more about the history of the Naples Underground here.
Rediscovery required extensive excavation due to centuries of urban development burying these sites. Preservation has involved balancing historical authenticity with modern safety requirements to ensure these fragile spaces remain accessible to the public.
