Did you know that there are countless sites to visit underneath the modern city of Naples and the surrounding area? From Christian catacombs to ancient Greek ruins, Naples’ underground sites are fascinating testaments to the city’s long history.

With a history stretching back thousands of years, there are many layers of the past to discover and explore underneath the streets of Naples. These sites make memorable visits for anyone looking for something unique to do in Campania!

On this page I’ll be talking about:

• General tips for visiting Naples underground
• Naples’ famous catacombs
• The major underground sites in the center of Naples
• Other recommended underground sites in and near Naples

• A lot of these sites are not recommended for anyone who suffers from even a small amount of claustrophobia. Some sites, such as the Bourbon Gallery are more spacious than others, but if you suffer from a fear of small spaces, the dark, or generally being underground you will likely not enjoy these sites.
• Most of the sites on this page (with noted exceptions) are not accessible to anyone with mobility challenges. Most feature narrow tunnels, steep staircases and restricted access throughout. If you have any questions about access relating to your specific circumstances you should contact the official operators or your tour guide.

Now that the practical stuff is out of the way let’s start exploring Naples underground!

About the Catacombs of San Gennaro

These catacombs take their name from Naples’ patron saint, San Gennaro, who was interred here in the 5th century (he now lies at rest in the Duomo di Napoli).

The history of this site stretches back to the 2nd century CE when the first burials took place here but throughout the last two millennia the catacombs have undergone some major changes.

At first the area was an ancient Roman necropolis and then a Byzantine burial site. Following this, the catacombs served as the final resting place for Naples’ bishops and other residents until the 11th century, before falling into disrepair following a period of looting in the 18th century.

In recent times the catacombs have been brought back to life with extensive restoration projects that allow people to visit a key part of Naples’ cultural heritage.

How to visit the Catacombs of San Gennaro

The catacomb entrance is located on the Capodimonte Hill which can be easily reached via public transport from the center of Naples.

All visits to the catacombs are either with an official tour (available in English and Italian), or via approved agencies and guides.

I’d recommend booking your ticket in advance online to avoid disappointment should you try to visit on the day and there is no availability.

Visits typically take between 1 and 1.5 hours and you’ll find a well stocked gift shop, cafe and toilets on site.

Of all of the underground sites detailed on this page these are most easily accessible for anyone with mobility challenges, where a lot of effort has been made to allow everyone to visit.

If you have already visited the Catacombs of San Gaudioso (detailed below) you will be given a free entrance to the Catacombs of San Gennaro which is valid for 12 months.

Catacombs of San Gaudioso

On your way from the center of Naples to the Catacombs of San Gennaro you will pass the Catacombs of San Gaudioso, but you wouldn’t know this as they are several feet under the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità in the La Sanità neighborhood!

While not as expansive as the Catacombs of San Gennaro, the catacombs are unique for their level of preservation and the way the remains of those interred here were displayed.

About the Catacombs of San Gaudioso

The Catacombs of San Gaudioso take their name from the 5th century bishop who was buried at this location following his death. His followers, wanting to be close to their saint, opted for burial here as well which led to the creation of the catacombs.

Over the following centuries the catacombs were expanded as more Christians were buried here, until a series of landslides and floods covered the area.

Visits to these catacombs start with an underground tour of the main burial spaces. Your guide will show you some of the earliest evidence of burials here, along with Byzantine-era frescoes and mosaics.

In the 17th century the Dominican order took over the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità (built directly above) and proceeded to excavate the catacombs, sparking the interest of the Neapolitan elite of the time.

Looking to raise funds for the construction of the basilica we now see today, the Dominicans accepted huge donations from rich locals looking to be buried in such a revered location.

Following death, these individuals were interred in a unique way; first their bodies were drained via specially-prepared niches before their skulls were placed into the walls of the tombs. The wall in which their skull was placed was then painted with a life-like representation of their skeleton, covered in clothing relevant to their living profession.

Unfortunately no photos are permitted in these catacombs so you’ll have to go and see for yourself to understand this sight fully!

After completing the underground tour, your guide will lead you back into the church above and show you the unusual construction with the original basilica under the newer altar. I have seen a lot of churches in Italy and beyond, and this is by far the most unique structure I have seen; a must for anyone interested in religious history or architecture!

Within the church you’ll also find, and visit at the end of the official tour, the largest presepe (nativity scene) in Naples. Named “Il Presepe Favoloso” (“The Fabulous Nativity”), this huge work of art was created during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was gifted to the city of Naples by the La Scarabattola workshop in collaboration with Biagio Roscigno, a famed nativity scene restorer and scenographer.

How to visit the Catacombs of San Gaudioso

To get to the catacombs you can either walk from the historic center of Naples (around 25 minutes depending on exactly where you start) or opt for public transport or a taxi.

The area in which the catacombs are found is a working neighborhood meaning there are plenty of ways to get here, but consider this also means that traffic can be heavy at points so you should plan to arrive with plenty of time.

All visits to the catacombs are accompanied by an official guide. You can also choose to book a private tour via an approved provider who offers Naples underground tours.

Tickets can be booked online (recommended) or purchased on site at the entrance. Note that it is not permitted to take photos in the catacombs, but you are free to take photos in the church above, and of the Il Presepe Favoloso at the end of the tour.

A visit to the Catacombs of San Gaudioso takes around 1 hour on average and you’ll find bathrooms and a simple gift shop near the entrance/exit.

If you have already visited the Catacombs of San Gennaro you will be given a free entrance to the Catacombs of San Gaudioso which is valid for 12 months.

Catacombs of San Severo – Also located in the La Sanita neighborhood under the Basilica San Severo, these catacombs are not currently visitable. Locals claim that underground tunnels connect all the catacombs in this area but I am yet to verify this!

Fontanelle Cemetery (Cimitero delle Fontanelle) – While technically not a catacomb, this site houses the remains of thousands of people from various periods of Naples’ history. Currently it is not possible to visit this site, contrary to some information available online, but efforts are underway to re-open this site in the near future.

Beyond the religious sites detailed above that lie outside of the center of Naples, under its historic heart you’ll find a hidden city waiting for you to explore.

Unlike other Italian cities, Naples’ layers are not generally on display, but below the streets you’ll discover Greek quarries, ancient aqueducts, Roman ruins, medieval water cisterns, World War II bomb shelters and much more – let’s go:

Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) – City Center

If you’re looking for an introduction to Naples’ underground history, this is the place to visit!

By taking a Napoli Sotterranea tour you’ll travel through history from the ancient Greek city under Naples through to the modern day, with some surprises along the way.

What to expect in the Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) – City Center

Tours of Napoli Sotterranea start with a short descent down from street level to the edges of an ancient quarry where the local volcanic rock was extracted and used for construction above ground.

As you move further along the underground system your guide will share with you the detailed history of this site. This includes how it became a water storage facility for a long period, where locals would draw collected rainwater to the surface from strategically placed wells in the ground.

You’ll also encounter evidence of how this site was used as a shelter during World War II, including bomb remnants that were discovered here after the war.

Once you exit the main underground site you’ll visit a small War Museum dedicated to World War II, before venturing on to visit the remains of an ancient Roman theater under a typical Neapolitan house nearby.

On entering the house you’ll wonder where the ancient Roman theater could possibly be, but you’re in for a surprise! I won’t ruin it for you, but you should never stop questioning what might be under your feet…

How to visit Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) – City Center

The entrance to the Napoli Sotterranea tour is next to the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore at Piazza San Gaetano 68 – you’ll see it tucked down a side street next to the basilica.

Alongside the Catacombs of San Gennaro, this is the most popular underground Naples site and as such you should definitely book tickets in advance if you know when you’d like to visit. Not doing so means you could find long lines to purchase tickets on-site!

You can opt for an English tour or Italian underground tour, both led by an official Napoli Sotterranea guide. For tours in other languages you should hire a private guide.

Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) – Spanish Quarter

While this site has a lot in common with the previous site, the Naples Underground site in the Spanish Quarter is worth visiting separately to understand the expansive nature of the vast subterranean city under modern Naples.

What to expect in the Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) – Spanish Quarter

Your tour guide will lead you down a staircase that seems to go on for a long time, leaving you with no sense of how far down from street level you are.

At the bottom of the stairs your guide will give you a fascinating insight into the history of this site, which follows a recognisable pattern; it was first a quarry created by the ancient Greeks, then a series of underground water basins and later used as bomb shelters.

Much like the site at Piazza San Gaetano, the approximate depth to which this site extends is 40 meters beneath street level. The tunnels and underground systems have been cut directly into the volcanic rock. The tunnels seem to decrease in width as you descend, adding to the sense of the depth and remoteness from the surface.

How to visit Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) – Spanish Quarter

The unassuming entrance is located at Vico S. Anna di Palazzo 52.

Like all other major underground sites, all visits are accompanied by an official guide and are available in English or Italian.

This site is smaller than the similarly-named site in the center of Naples, and not as well known. As such this is a great back-up option if you can’t get tickets to the site at Piazza San Gaetano (but also worth visiting in addition, or instead of, if this is more convenient for you).

Even though this site is less popular it can still get busy meaning you should consider booking your tickets in advance if you know when you’d like to visit.

You’ll find a bathroom at the entrance for visitors, behind the ticket desk.

Bourbon Tunnel (Galleria Borbonica)

This is my favorite underground Naples site to visit, as it provides a great history lesson, touching on all of Naples’ eras throughout the past three millennia.

What to expect in the Bourbon Tunnel (Galleria Borbonica)

The Bourbon Tunnel, named after the Royal family who commissioned it, was conceived and constructed between 1853 and 1855 as a private underground passageway for the king of Naples and his personal guard. The tunnel was designed to allow them to move quickly between the Royal Palace and barracks situated at the base of the Vomero Hill.

The king attempted to keep the construction of this vast underground tunnel a secret from the population of Naples, but when this proved futile he attempted to convince everyone that he was building a huge underground shopping destination! As you visit, try to imagine 19th century Neapolitans shopping here.

A particularly interesting note is that, unknown to the architects and workers at the time, an underground ancient Greek Roman aqueduct ran through this part of the city meaning they had to alter the design to factor this in.

While other sites in Naples were used by locals to shelter from Allied bombing during the Second World War, this is the best example of how these unique locations were converted into air raid shelters.

The large spaces at the end closest to Piazza del Plebiscito are filled with items belonging to those who took refuge here, and the now-eerie atmosphere really brings home the reality of being in Naples towards the end of the war.

If your visit started at Vico del Grottone (my recommendation – more on this below) you’ll finish your tour in the unique gift shop run by Marco, who co-founded the organisation that cleared out the Galleria Borbonica and now runs the site.

In the shop you’ll find items for sale that were discovered during the clearances. These include everyday things used by the people of Naples during the post-war period, but also items from the war period left behind to time by those sheltering here.

How to visit the Bourbon Tunnel (Galleria Borbonica)

The most important thing to note about this site is that it has two entrances (which are also exits) – one at Vico del Grottone 4, and the other at Via Domenico Morelli 61c.

When you book your tickets to visit (I recommend you do so in advance online), I would go for the tour that starts at Vico del Grottone, close to Piazza del Plebiscito.

Opting for this entrance means you can get to the start of your tour easily from the city center and finish by exiting through the unique gift shop out to the Chiaia neighborhood, one of our favorite parts of Naples to eat and drink in.

Tours for the Galleria Borbonica are run by official guides, with options available from authorised agencies offering Naples underground tours.

You should allow around 1.5 hours to visit the Bourbon Gallery, including time to explore the range of items in the gift shop.

Thanks to Naples’ long history there are numerous other underground sites in the city and nearby. Here are some of our favorites which we believe are worth visiting if you have time:

San Lorenzo Maggiore

Under the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore (just across from the Napoli Sotterranea site in the city center) you’ll find the remains of an ancient city with ruins from the Greek and Roman periods of Naples’ history.

The main attraction at San Lorenzo is the remains of an ancient Roman marketplace, which when combined with the remains of the theater nearby, shine a light on the layout of the ancient classical city of Neapolis.

Crypta Neapolitana

A short distance on foot from the Napoli Mergellina train station, just beyond the Chiaia neighborhood, you’ll find what was once one of ancient Naples’ engineering wonders.

This tunnel, at over 700m long, was constructed during Roman times to connect the ancient city with Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli) where the Romans had a major naval base. You can visit the entrance of the tunnel and marvel at the scale of this subterreanean structure for free without a guide, but unfortunuately visits inside the tunnel are not currently possible.

Ancient Roman cisterns of Sorrento

These huge ancient water storage spaces, carved out of the cliffs under Sorrento, were constructed during the Roman period. The cisterns can be found directly under the Bellevue Syrene hotel where they have been repurposed as event spaces, and can be viewed for free from the Bagni Salvatore beach.

Another way of seeing them is to book onto a daytime kayak tour where you’ll stop to explore the cisterns, as well as a nearby ancient Roman fish trap (if the conditions are right).