- 1. Visit to the Galleria Borbonica in Naples: Hours, Prices, and Tips
- 2. Hours and Prices
- 3. Online Tickets and Guided Tours
- 4. What to See and How to Visit Galleria Borbonica
- 5. Where It Is Located and How to Get There
- 6. Useful Tips for Visiting the Attraction
- 7. Historical Notes, Curiosities, and Practical Info: What You Need to Know in Brief
Visit to the Galleria Borbonica in Naples: Hours, Prices, and Tips
The Galleria Borbonica is a long tunnel rich in artifacts waiting to be discovered, a military masterpiece that was never completed but offers a fascinating glimpse into Naples' underground. Today, it is one of the most interesting and unique attractions in Naples, allowing you to embark on a true journey through time in the heart of the Neapolitan capital, discovering objects, cisterns, engravings, and bas-reliefs. Here's everything you need to know to plan your visit.
Hours and Prices
Hours and prices vary depending on the types of tours. Four different tours are available: Standard tour, Via delle Memorie tour, Adventure tour, and Speleo Light tour.
Buy your ticket online: if you want to save time, you can obtain your entry ticket in advance by purchasing it directly online. The ticket also includes a guide in Italian or English.
- Hours Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. The standard tour starts at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. The Via delle Memorie tour starts at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The Adventure tour starts at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM. Finally, the Speleo Light tour starts at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
- Ticket cost The Standard tour and Via delle Memorie cost $10.00 (ticket available online). The Adventure tour and the Speleo Light tour cost $15.00.
- Discounts The Standard tour and Via delle Memorie have a reduced price of $3.00 for minors aged 11 to 13. The Adventure tour costs $10.00 for minors aged 10 to 15 years old.
- Free entry The Standard tour and Via delle Memorie are free for children under 10.
Online Tickets and Guided Tours
What to See and How to Visit Galleria Borbonica
The Galleria Borbonica has three entrances and four routes that can be followed for a visit:
During the visit, you can admire various statues, wall engravings, bas-reliefs, and wonderful classic cars and motorcycles, which emerged from a mass of debris 8 meters high. There is a Fiat 508 Barilla, Fiat 1100 (used as a taxi), Fiat 1400, an Alfa Romeo 2500 SS convertible Pinin Farina, and many Vespas and Lambrettas.
- Standard Tour, access conveniently from Morelli parking or Vico del Grottone, near Piazza del Plebiscito, through a staircase built in the 18th century. From this entrance, you will walk about 500 meters through tunnels, wells, cisterns, and cavities. The tour showcases the technical solutions adopted by designer Errico Alvino, the environments related to the Renaissance sections of the Bolla aqueduct, the bridges, and the walls built by the Bourbons.
- Via delle Memorie this itinerary offers a journey into "hidden Naples," visiting the octagonal courtyard, the staircase of Palazzo Serra di Cassano, the small war museum, and the underground, with its caves and aqueduct. Accessible from Via Monte di Dio No. 14 - Palazzo Serra di Cassano c/o Interior A14.
- Adventure Tour for this adventure, you will wear a helmet and use a flashlight. You will visit two cisterns, walk along a 20-meter section of a tunnel called "Pizzofalcone," admire 18th-century arches, and navigate on a raft. An intense itinerary! This tour is accessible only from Via Morelli, 61 (pedestrian entrance of Morelli parking).
- Speleo Light Tour like real spelunkers, you will be equipped with a speleological helmet with a light and explore the tunnels of the ancient underground aqueduct, the cisterns, take a long walk through the narrow tunnels, and much more... you may come out a bit dirty, but definitely satisfied! Equipment is provided by the Galleria Borbonica and access is only available from Via Domenico Morelli, 61 (pedestrian area of Morelli parking).
Where It Is Located and How to Get There
- Entrance Vico del Grottone Vico del Grottone, 4 - Near Piazza Plebiscito. You can arrive on foot (it is the second street on the left on Via Gennaro Serra, the entrance is at the end of the closed alley - Get directions), by bus via line E6, by metro via line 1 (Municipio stop), or by funicular (Central Funicular F3, Augusteo stop).
- Entrance Via D. Morelli Via D. Morelli, 61 c/o Morelli Parking - Near Piazza Vittoria. For those near the center, you can arrive on foot (Get directions), by bus via lines E6, 128, 140, 151, 154, N1, by metro via line 1 (Municipio stop) and 2 (Piazza Amedeo stop), or by funicular (Central Funicular F3, Augusteo stop).
- Entrance Via Monte di Dio Via Monte di Dio - Palazzo Serra di Cassano - Interior A14. You can arrive on foot (from Piazza Plebiscito, take Via Gennaro Serra, at the end of the road turn left onto Via Monte di Dio, and about 80 meters ahead is the entrance on the left - Get directions), by bus via lines E6, 128, 140, 151, 154, N1, by metro via line 1 (Municipio stop), or by funicular (Central Funicular F3, Augusteo stop).
Useful Tips for Visiting the Attraction
- Purchase the city card if you are interested in visiting other museums or attractions in the city, buy the Naples Pass, which offers unlimited public transport, free entry, and discounts for the main attractions, including the Galleria Borbonica.
- Priority ticket purchase a priority ticket to avoid the endless lines Naples Underground: entrance to Galleria Borbonica;
- Watch for restrictions photography is not allowed during the Standard tour, photography is partially allowed during the Adventure tour, while it is allowed for the other two;
- Accessibility only children 10 years and older can access the Adventure tour. The Speleo Light tour is not permitted for those who suffer from claustrophobia, weigh over 220 lbs, have even mild mobility issues, or those under 18. The Via delle Memorie tour is not accessible to everyone due to the presence of stairs;
- Minimum time for the Standard tour, the duration is about one hour. For the Via delle Memorie, the duration is 1 hour and 15 minutes. The Adventure tour lasts 1 hour and 25 minutes, while the Speleo Light tour lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes;
- Reservation required no reservation needed for the Standard tour and Via delle Memorie. Reservation is mandatory for the Adventure and Speleo Light tours;
- Recommended clothing for the Speleo Light tour wear sneakers or hiking shoes. There are no specific indications for the other tours.
Historical Notes, Curiosities, and Practical Info: What You Need to Know in Brief
The Galleria Borbonica in Naples is an underground cavity located in the San Ferdinando district. It is a military route commissioned by King Ferdinand II of Bourbon to Enrico Alvino in 1853, to connect Largo di Palazzo (now Piazza del Plebiscito) with Piazza Vittoria, passing beneath the Pizzofalcone hill. This was to allow the royal family and their troops to quickly escape and reach the sea.
The imposing work was never completed, due to difficulties encountered during the excavations and political events that culminated in the defeat of the Bourbons and the fall of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
The entrances to the Galleria Borbonica are three:
Remember that:
- Vico del Grottone, 4 - Near Piazza del Plebiscito;
- Via D. Morelli, 61 - c/o Morelli Parking;
- Via Monte di Dio, 14 - Palazzo Serra di Cassano - Int. A14.
- for the Standard tour and Via delle Memorie no reservation is required, and during the first one, photography is not allowed.
- For the Adventure and Speleo Light tours, you must make a reservation, and comfortable clothing is recommended, especially for Speleo Light, where you will adventure like true spelunkers!
- Be cautious regarding children, as only those aged 10 and up are allowed in the Adventure tour, while only those over 18 are allowed for the Speleo Light tour (in both cases, documentation may be required to verify age).
- Book online, as there are limited spots available, you will be certain to visit the Galleria Borbonica on the day you desire! Naples Underground: entrance to Galleria Borbonica;