Crypta Neapolitana, Napoli, Italy

The Crypta Neapolitana is an ancient Roman tunnel near Naples. It was built in 37 BC, and is over 700 metres long.

The tunnel passes beneath the Posillipo hill and connects Naples with the so-called Phlegrean Fields and the town of Pozzuoli along the road known as the via Domiziana.

The eastern Piedigrotta entrance is now enclosed within an archaeological park, and the site of the villa of Vedius Pollio, and later imperial villa. The site is also noteworthy for the presence of the so-called Virgil's tomb, as well as the tomb of the Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi. Three secondary tunnels end in openings overhanging the bay, providing light and ventilation.

The name Grotta Seiano (Sejanus's cave) comes from the infamous Lucius Aelius Sejanus, prefect of Tiberius, who according to tradition, commissioned its enlargement in the first century AD. The first tunnel was built by the architect Lucius Cocceius Auctus for Agrippa during the civil war between Octavian and Sextus Pompeius in c.37 BC to connect the villa of Vedius Pollio and other patrician villas of Pausilypon (ancient Posillipo) to the ports of Puteoli and Cumae. The tunnel is one of a number of such works in the Naples area built by Cocceius.

The tunnel was still in use as a roadway until superseded by two modern tunnels in the early 20th century, and shows extensive restoration done by the architects of the Bourbon dynasty of Naples. During the Second World War it was used as a bomb shelter for the inhabitants of Bagnoli; the war and some landslides during the fifties put it back into a state of neglect. Today it has been restored as an archaeological site.

References:

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User Reviews

Vincenzo Di Guida (2 years ago)
I didn't like the fact that it is closed to the public

Jocimar Araujo (2 years ago)
The Neronian Cryptoportico is an underground architectural structure located in the Palatine Hill in Rome. It was built during the reign of Emperor Nero in the 1st century AD and has distinct characteristics of Roman architecture. The cryptoportico consists of a series of vaulted galleries that served as support for Nero's Golden Palace, which stood above. The Neronian Cryptoportico is notable for its complex engineering and construction. The galleries are formed by arches and columns that support the brick vaults. Originally, the structure extended over a large area, covering the gardens and courtyards of Nero's palace. Although the exact function of the Neronian Cryptoportico is uncertain, it is believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes or as an entertainment and leisure space for the imperial family. Today, visitors can explore the ruins of the cryptoportico, appreciating the architecture and history of the site. It is a fascinating window into palace life in the Roman period and offers a unique insight into the grandeur and ingenuity of ancient Roman civilization.

Robin Grant (2 years ago)
Amazing experience, takes you down 139 steps into this huge cavernous space that gets incredibly narrow to the point where you have to take your bag off your back and clutch it to your chest! Therefore, avoid if you don't like tight spaces. However, it was breathtaking and easily the best value-for-money thing you can do!

Gabriella Di Laora (2 years ago)
Very beautiful Neapolitan crypt. Cannot be visited inside.

Vale (5 years ago)
Externally beautiful but it is not practicable / visitable.

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