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Napoli Sotterranea: The labyrinth under Piazza San Gaetano

Napoli Sotterranea

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Napoli Sotterranea Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

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1 hr. 25 min.

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Beneath Naples’ bustling Piazza San Gaetano lies Napoli Sotterranea, a mesmerizing underground network unveiling 24 centuries of history and hidden treasures 40 meters beneath the vibrant cityscape. This official and authorized route covers ancient cisterns, a Greco-Roman theater, wartime shelters, and hypogeum gardens.

How to enter?

You can access the Napoli Sotterranea from Piazza San Gaetano, 68 [find on maps]. The entrance is marked by blue and white flags. As with all the others, this specific section of Underground Naples requires separate tickets.

Things to know before booking Napoli Sotterranea tours

A tour of the Napoli Sotterranea takes up to 1.5 hours. You will follow an authorized route along early galleries, water reservoirs, a theater, and bomb shelters from the Second World War.
You cannot explore the tunnels of Napoli Sotterranea independently. All visits include a professional guide who helps you navigate safely and protect the integrity of the underground sites.
While you can get tickets directly on-site, booking online lets you save on time spent waiting in lines and plan your day more efficiently.

Why visit Napoli Sotterranea?

You can trace Naples's history across millennia! It began with the Greeks in the 4th century BCE and ended with the Roman Empire in the first few centuries CE, followed by the medieval, Renaissance, and World War eras.
Guided tours with experts ensure you don’t miss a thing, and help you navigate the underground caves safely.
Walk through the remains of an ancient theater connected to homes on the surface, bomb shelters and their graffiti, experimental hypogeum gardens (did someone say doomsday crops?), and the city’s medieval aqueducts.
Right next door on Piazza San Gaetano 316 lies the Neapolis Sotterrata and San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica. You can plan your visit to both of them on the same day to make the most of your time in this area of Naples.

How to reach Napoli Sotterranea?

🚌By bus: Catch a bus on lines 3M or R5.
Nearest stop: Costantinopoli, Piazza Garibaldi

🚄By train: Lines FR, FA, FB, IC, ICN, or R.
Nearest stop: Naples Centrale

🚇By metro: Lines 1 and 2.
Nearest stop: Museo Underground, Dante on Line 1.

🚕By car: You can grab a car or taxi to reach Napoli Sotterranea. It will be a 10-minute walk from the parking spots.
Nearest stop: Duomo, Piazza Cavour, or Corso Umberto parking spaces

What to see inside the official Napoli Sotterranea?

War museum

Parts of the underground tunnel networks were used as a bomb shelter by close to 40,000 people during the Second World War. This underground museum preserves documents and objects relating to the war, including bunk beds, forgotten weapons, and war machinery. You will also find graffiti and magazines from the era.

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History of Napoli Sotterranea

4th century BCE

🪨The Greeks begin quarrying tuff stone from underground for city construction and subsequently establish Neapolis (modern Naples), forming the earliest tunnels of what becomes Napoli Sotterranea.

1st century BCE – 1st century CE

💧Romans expanded the underground network, constructing aqueducts and cisterns to supply water to the city.

🎭A theater is built nearby, integrated into the urban fabric above, becoming a hub for entertainment and dramatic performances.

Middle Ages (5th – 15th century)

🏙️The aqueduct system remains in partial use, but the Roman theater is abandoned and covered as the city grows above it.

♻️Subterranean spaces are repurposed for storage, refuge, and urban development.

Renaissance and Early Modern Period (15th – 18th century)

🔦The underground network is used for water storage and emergency escape routes. Structures above ground incorporate remnants of ancient ruins, blending Naples' layered history.

🚿In the 16th century, nobleman Cesare Carmignano built a new aqueduct because the old one and its rainwater cisterns were no longer able to satisfy the growing water needs of the city.

World War II (1939–1945)

🛩️The tunnels and chambers serve as air raid shelters, protecting thousands of Neapolitans during bombings.

💈Remnants of life under the surface during this time – including graffiti and personal artifacts, are preserved for all to see.

Post-War Era (1950s–1980s)

🔍In the late '70s, Enzo Albertini founded a committee to rediscover and restore Naples' subsoil. He organized guided walks through key sites of historical, anthropological, and archaeological significance beneath the city.

🎀✂️In the late '80s, the site known as Napoli Sotterranea was officially opened, offering regular excursions underground.

Modern Day (21st century)

🏳️Napoli Sotterranea is a celebrated cultural and historical site, offering regular guided tours through an authorized route showcasing Naples’ rich and layered history.

🌱The hypogeum gardens were set up in 2015, in order to experiment with crop growth 35 meters deep in the ‘bowels of Earth’.

Visitor tips

Carry a layer of extra clothing even during warmer months, and wear comfortable flat shoes to traverse the uneven terrain.
Spring is the best time to visit since the weather is mild and crowds are relatively lower.
Booking your tour online gives you the flexibility to enjoy other sites nearby before making a direct entry instead of standing in the ticket lines.
Nearby, you can explore the historic center and landmarks like Via dei Tribunali, the octagonal Misericordia chapel featuring Carravaggio’s works, and the extravagant Duomo di Napoli.
Craving a delicious Neapolitan pizza after your tour? Visit Gino e Toto Sorbillo. Or, head to Osteria Ippolito for authentic Italian comfort food.

Frequently asked questions about Napoli Sotterranea

How long does a typical guided tour of the Napoli Sotterranea last? Can I visit independently, without a guide?

A guided tour of the Napoli Sotterranea can last up to 1.5 hours. The only way to visit is in the company of an authorized guide.

Do I need to book tickets in advance, or can I purchase them on the day of my visit?

You can purchase them on the day of your visit outside the entrance, but there are usually long lines for tickets. Booking online gives you the flexibility to arrive whenever you want and enter immediately.

What is the official Napoli Sotterranea route and where is it located?

The official Napoli Sotterranea route begins from Piazza San Gaetano, 68. It is a safe and authorized path taking you through Bourbon tunnels, Greek cisterns, hypogeum gardens, and a War Museum.

What other Naples Underground sites can I visit?

You can visit the Neapolis Sotterrata next-door, explore the Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso at Rione Sanità, and head to the Spanish Quarters for a different side of Underground Naples.

Are we allowed to film or take pictures inside the Napoli Sotterranea?

Yes, taking photos and videos is allowed.

Is there a dress code requirement for visiting the Napoli Sotterranea?

No, but it is recommended that you wear comfortable walking shoes and carry a warm layer since the temperature underground is usually much cooler than the surface.

What are the main restrictions or accessibility issues that I could face?

The route is designed with handrails and spacious paths, with only one optional narrow section. Visitors with claustrophobia can opt for an alternate route and wait about 10 minutes for their group. However, due to numerous steps, the experience is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.