Underground Naples: A Tour of the City's Mysteries

Naples isn't just a city of sun, sea, and waterfront. Beneath its feet lies a hidden world, a network of tunnels, caves, aqueducts, and places of worship that tell a story. a thousand years of underground historyVisiting underground Naples means discovering another city, made of mysteries, legends, and architecture carved into the rock.

In this guide we take you to the most fascinating places in the Neapolitan underground: from the 40 meters deep Naples Underground to the ancient early Christian catacombs, from the evocative Fontanelle Cemetery to the Bourbon Tunnel.

Naples Underground: The Hidden Heart of the City

The main attraction is Underground Naples, an archaeological trail that winds 40 meters below Piazza San Gaetano, in the heart of the historic center. Here you can admire the ancient Greco-Roman aqueducts, the water collection tanks and the air raid shelters of the Second World War.

During the guided tour (lasting about an hour and a half), you descend through a tunnel dug into the tuff and walk along the corridors that have nourished the city for centuries. The section dedicated to the Roman theater of Neapolis, located under the modern buildings of Via Anticaglia.

Address: Piazza San Cajetan, 68
Timetables: Excursions every hour from 10:00 to 18:00 (Thursdays also at 21:00 by reservation)
tickets: starting from €15 (full price), with the option to skip the line online

Catacombs of San Gennaro: An Early Christian Journey

Le Catacombs of San Gennaro They are among the oldest and most important in Italy. Located in the Sanità district, they are spread over two levels with early Christian frescoes, mosaics and ancient tombs dating back to the 2nd-5th century AD

The tour is guided and lasts about an hour. You visit the underground basilica with the frescoes of the Good Shepherd and the bishops' crypts. The catacombs are part of the Sanità district redevelopment project, which has transformed the neighborhood into a leading cultural hub.

Address: Via Capodimonte, 13 (adjacent to the Basilica of Good Counsel)
Timetables: Daily 10:00–17:00 (last admission 17:00, closed on Wednesdays)
tickets: €13 full price, €6 under 18, free for under 6s and disabled people

Catacombs of San Gaudioso: the second underground cemetery

Less known but equally fascinating, the Catacombs of San Gaudioso are located under the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, also in the Sanità district. Here the Byzantine frescoes and the particular burial system with exposed skulls, typical of the medieval period.

The visit is often combined with that of the neighborhood and the route of the Holy Mile, a guided itinerary that connects the two catacombs passing through the symbolic places of Sanità.

Address: Piazza Sanità, 14 – Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità
Timetables: Monday-Saturday 10:00–17:00, Sunday and holidays 10:00–13:00
tickets: San Gennaro + San Gaudioso cumulative ticket €15

Fontanelle Cemetery: The Cult of the Poor Souls

One of the most evocative and mysterious places in Naples is the Cemetery of the Fontanelle, a huge ossuary that houses over 40.000 human remains. Located in a natural cavity in the Sanità district, it is the heart of the cult of the poor souls: the popular tradition of “adopting” a skull and caring for it in exchange for protection and good luck.

Visits are available in both guided (recommended) which is free during religious opening hours. The cemetery is empty and evocative, with thousands of skulls and bones arranged in glass cases and niches.

Address: Via Fontanelle, 80
Timetables: Guided tours run by the Catacombs of Naples; Monday and Friday, the church is open for worship from 9:00 to 10:00.
Entrance: Free for visits to worship, guided tours are subject to a fee

Bourbon Gallery and Bourbon Tunnel

Another stop of the underground Naples is the Bourbon Gallery, a path of over 2 km excavated in 1853 at the behest of Ferdinand II of Bourbon. Used as air-raid shelter During the Second World War and as a depot for vintage cars, today it can be visited with guided tours starting from Via Domenico Morelli or Piazza della Vittoria.

The route includes a suggestive stretch in shipyard through the ancient Bolla aqueduct, which makes the experience even more adventurous.

Address: Vico del Grottone, 4 / Victory Square
Timetables: Visits by reservation (check on the official website)
tickets: from €10 to €15 depending on the route

Useful information for visiting underground Naples

Here are some practical tips to help you plan your tour of hidden Naples:

• Reservation request : for the catacombs and Naples Underground it is always recommended, often mandatory
• Clothing : the temperature underground is cool (around 16-18°C) even in summer, bring a light jacket
• Footwear: comfortable, non-slip shoes, the routes include stairs and uneven floors
• DurationEach visit lasts approximately 1–1,5 hours. For a complete tour of underground Naples, plan on at least half a day.
• CumulativeThere are combined tickets for the catacombs and the Naples Underground.

Frequently asked questions about underground Naples