Underground Naples — Attraction in Naples

It is my first time to Naples and I'm glad I experienced this. I was filled with amazement to walk in this historical underground water labyrinth and travel network for pozzari caring for the cisterns, turned bomb shelter during WWII beneath bustling Naples (that's my opinion).

What was helpful for me was having Maya (pardon if I made any spelling error) as my English speaking guide. She is very knowledgeable, passionate and authentic about sharing. She welcomed questions and provides us with detailed information to satisfy our curiosity.

As this is an underground network, there is walking and some climbing to do, especially to return back to the entrance. There is also a part during the tour where the space is narrow- we needed to "crab walk" for a bit before the space widens for us to walk front-facing but this is optional.

What I didn't like about my experience was the queue system. The communication between staff and ticket holders was not clear. I bought tickets online for 3pm so that I can skip the queue, which was recommended. The ticket stated for me to arrive 15min before the start of the tour. There was a long queue and many people standing beside the queue when I arrived. I was not sure who was in the queue and outside the queue. It was messy. The staff were also admitting people who were Italian speaking very frequently.

When I asked the staff, I was just told to wait in the queue. It seems there were ticket holders and non-ticket holders in the same queue. We checked with people in the queue and noticed many people on the side of the queue showing their phones (i assume tickets) and asking but were asked to wait. By then, it was already 3pm. I was worried that I'll be late for my next appointment. There wasn't any mention of the duration of the tour online.

Finally one of the staff divided the queue into ticket holders and non-ticket holders. That is where, I could "skip the queue". However, when the ticket holders entered the holding area, we waited another 15min past the scheduled time at 3pm. Nothing was said, and I assumed we were waiting for non-ticket holders to buy tickets...? It was humid inside with alot of people, and I was getting more worried about missing my next appointment-which is a scheduled ferry ride to Sicily.

I finally got to know that the tour was going to be 80min. There were more than 25 people in the group and it was raining heavily that day. There was a part in the tour where we need to climb up and walk to another building which was part of a historical theater turned refurbished home, so that took time. I was slightly late for my bus transfer to the ferry terminal and running for my life. 😂🤦

I recommend the tour but go early to allocate more time between this tour and your next...

Exploring Underground Naples is akin to journeying through a historical time capsule. This extensive subterranean network presents a rich tapestry of Naples’ multifaceted past.

Facts About Underground Naples:

Greek Origins: Initially formed as tuff quarries used in the construction of ancient Naples. Roman Aqueducts: Romans expanded these caves into a complex water supply system. WWII Role: Served as vital bomb shelters during World War II air raids. Hidden Chapels: Secluded chapels dating to the 17th century can be found deep within. Theater Connections: Some tunnels are connected to the ancient Greco-Roman Theater of Neapolis. Maze-Like: Over 400 km of intertwined tunnels exist beneath the city. Only small section is visited Subterranean Gardens: a project done by schools showcase plants as indicated by the tour guide there are area that are Off-Limits

Additional Insights:

• Tight Squeeze: Some passages are so narrow you must walk sideways. • Indelible Frescos: While we know the fresco materials, the exact mixture remains a mystery, eluding even masters like Leonardo da Vinci. Yet, these ancient artworks have astonishingly withstood the ravages of time.

Special Feature:

• After-Tour Experience: An exceptional extension of the tour takes you to private homes where parts of the Roman theatre have been uncovered. These residences are now incorporated into the tour, offering an even more intimate glimpse into Naples’ storied past.

Recommendation: For an immersive experience, opt for a guided tour. The addition of visiting private homes with ancient architectural elements makes this underground adventure truly...

The english tour was great, the guide did his best and was very informative and entertaining. What really went wrong was the organisation of the groups at the entrance. What a chaos! It greatly ruined our overal impression, unfortunately... We were eager to go there with kids and ordered a "skip the line ticket" for a certain day and hour from their official web-site. It said, one should arrive 30 minutes in advance to pay the tickets. On the day of the tour we were said to come 10 minutes in advance, later it turned into 5 minutes. At the end we were sent back into the queue (!) to wait. There were several visitors with the same issue, all of them were treated equally toxically. Ultimately they let everyone inside a badly ventilated room where we waited another 15 minutes for approx. 50 people - the whole queue actually - to join the tour. So, what is the "skip the line" booking all about?!? These are things to definitely consider: according to the booking details the tour should last 1h. In fact it was almost 2h; the group is so big that we spent at least 30 minutes overall for waiting after each station; the mentioned above makes it a difficult experience for families with smaller children, unfortunately. The whole experience could have been much more pleasant both for visitors and those in charge if the information at the entrance and online would be more precise (and visible!). The waiting area needs an appropriate organisation too. I would warmly recommend those managing the tours to think it over thoroughly and make it more...