This is the visit to Naples Underground: what to see, schedules, prices

One of the most surprising visits you can make in your tourist trip to Naples is to walk the subway City de la ciudad.

Moreover, visit underground Naples It is essential to know and delve into the history of this very special city in the Southern Italy.

Butwhat is Naples Underground?

Curiosities from the history of the underground city of Naples

This is an impressive labyrinth of galleries and tunnels that travel through the underground of the historic city of Nápoles, specifically, the Spanish Quarter.

Below you have some key data and curiosities to know its history.

Galleries to store water in Naples

El Naples Underground dates back to 470 BC, when the greek who inhabited the area, faced with the need to create underground reservoirs to accumulate water, began to create large underground water tanks.

The Romans They expanded the interior aqueduct, so that the water galleries were connected with tunnels while their storage was regulated.

Material to build buildings from Naples

The geology of tuff or volcanic tuff, a very light and porous material, facilitated the extraction of the materials, which were also used to build the Neapolis city buildings.

With the arrival in Naples of Charles I of AnjouIn 1266, the extraction of volcanic tuff to construct buildings in the city was accentuated.

And at the end of the 17th century, in order to limit the disorderly growth of Naples, it was prohibited to introduce construction materials into the city.

This led the Neapolitans to intensify the process, on the one hand, of extraction of volcanic tuff from underground, and on the other, simultaneous expansion of water tanks.

End of the use of underground water tanks

Finally, in 1885, after a serious cholera epidemic, it was decided stop using Naples' underground water tanks.

At that time, the city already had an incredible labyrinth of underground galleries and tunnels, which were accessed through long shafts that descended from each of the houses in the city. Spanish Quarter of Naples.

Naples shelters in World War II

La underground city of naples It later had another important use.

During the Second World War, Naples Underground became a great shelter to defend against the bombing of the city.

Officially, 436 shelters were set up with the necessary equipment so that up to 200.000 people could stay in them during the bombings.

Use of Naples Underground as landfills

After the war, and given the lack of means of transportation in Naples, the subway City It began to be used as landfills, so that the wells and deposits began to collapse.

Recovery of Naples Underground

Following the start of construction of the Naples Metro In the 60s, and after several floods, a gradual process of recovery of the subway City.

This reform is what has allowed us to currently, when visit Naples, you can participate in a surprising guided tour of the galleries and tunnels of the historic underground city.

What to see on the guided tour of Naples Underground

In our trip to Naples we sign up for the tour who carries out the Naples Cultural Association and the underground city.

To participate in this guided tour of the Naples underground, it is not necessary to make a reservation in advance, just be there at the start time in the very central Trieste and Trento square (very close to Castel Nuovo), next to the large esplanade of the Plebiscite Square.

The meeting with the guide takes place in front of the Gambrinus Coffee, one of the most famous of Nápoles.

It will have a sign and, furthermore, it will be easy for you to recognize it because there will surely be enough people gathered around it to visit.

To access the underground city of Naples, Together with the entire group of visitors you have to enter the labyrinth Spanish Quarter, going up one of its streets until reaching the door of a place.

Here you will find the staircase through which you will go down about 50 meters below ground level, until you reach a large gallery.

In this underground gallery It is where all visitors sit to listen to a first introduction to the Naples underground by the guide.

Due to the characteristics of the visit, it does not matter that the group is very large (we would be about 40 people...), because there are no problems listening to the explanations.

A shame these are only in Italian "Neapolitan«, which makes it difficult to understand all the details of the aforementioned explanations.

The guide is very expressive and «authentic«, and their explanations are complemented with many jokes, which in most cases are painful not to understand.

For the tour of the different galleries of the underground city of naplesYou should wear comfortable clothing, as a great attraction of the visit is having to go through three sections of very, very, very narrow tunnels, which were once used to transfer water between the different galleries.

Also note that the ambient temperature in the Naples Underground It is rather cool, even though it is summer.

If you have some claustrophobia, it is definitely not recommended that you go through these narrow tunnels. The galleries and rooms, however, are very spacious.

And if you are somewhat obese, you will not be able to do it because of its narrowness. But don't worry, because the guide will accompany you on other alternative itineraries.

Finally, after an hour of visiting, it is time to climb another staircase to, surprisingly, appear in the patio of a house in the lower area of ​​the Spanish Quarter, very close to the cafeteria where we initially met the guide.

In short, a very curious and recommended visit…

Schedules and prices visit Naples Underground

The schedules to visit the Naples underground They are, under normal conditions, throughout the year, from Monday to Sunday, at 10, 12, 14 and 16,30:XNUMX p.m.

The Naples Underground guided tour ticket prices They are: 12 euros for adults and 6 euros for children from 7 to 12 years old, with free entry for children under 7 years old.