Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea)

Overview

Napoli Sotterranea takes you 40 metres below the city streets into a vast network of Greek-Roman aqueducts, WWII bomb shelters, and ancient tunnels carved from tuff stone over 2,400 years.

Highlights

• Ancient aqueducts: Greek and Roman water channels carved into volcanic tuff.
• WWII shelters: Rooms used by 200,000 Neapolitans during Allied bombing.
• Narrow passages: Squeeze through candlelit tunnels just 50 cm wide.

History

The underground dates to the 4th century BC when Greeks quarried tuff for the city walls. Romans expanded the tunnels for aqueducts; WWII civilians used them for shelter.

Visitor Tips

• Guided tour only: English tours depart hourly from Piazza San Gaetano.
• Claustrophobia warning: One passage is very narrow.
• Duration: 1.5 hours.