Top 4 Caves around Pozzuoli

A route in ancient Neapolis where you can walk along a street from that era with its shops and appreciate the Cryptoporticus and the Macellum. https://www.laneapolissotterrata.it

The semi-rock hermitage of Santa Maria Pietraspaccata is nestled within a centuries-old chestnut grove, the “Bosco della Salandra”, in the dense forest rich in flora and fauna extraordinary treasures are hidden: the “Ciaurriello“, a Roman mausoleum still preserved today, the “Grotta del Brigante“, and countless other archaeological finds yet to be discovered. The hermitage is located in Marano di Napoli and constitutes an archaeological-architectural unicum in Campania, it is partially dug into the side of a deep hydrographic furrow that from the Camaldoli hill flows into the bottom of the Quarto crater, with jumps of over one hundred meters. Its caves develop on multiple levels and probably represent a primitive rock settlement dating back to the Neolithic. It was an obligatory stop for shepherds during the transhumance, in fact, it overlooks an ancient Osco-Samnite sheep track (also cut into the tuff bank) that connected the highest Neapolitan hill with the Phlegraean-Campanian countryside. In Roman times, the caves were incorporated into an overlying villa, with probable function of mithraeum and nymphaeum. The tuff ridge involved is ingeniously sculpted in such a way as to intercept, with studied channels and inclined planes, both rainwater and spring water to be regimented in two large cisterns. Other channels accompanied the excess water to the bottom of the gully, where a suggestive stream flows that transforms into a rushing torrent during the rains. The hermitage-tower was added at the end of the 16th century in order to incorporate the aforementioned caves. The structure is crossed vertically by a fault fracture from which it is not excluded that thermal steam came out in ancient times. Discovered in 1992 by a group of volunteers organized by Prof. Carlo Palermo, who then formed the Archeoclub Maraheis, it was brought to light by them by manually removing hundreds of cubic meters of material that had fallen from the overlying cliff. The work, which lasted several years, has highlighted the strong archaeological value of the site and has recovered numerous finds from the Neolithic, from the 1st-2nd century AD and others from the medieval period. Most of these are located at the Archaeological Museum of Naples. In the early Middle Ages it was perhaps used by Basilian monks, as would be deduced from the very ancient title of SS. Salvatoriello, given to the main cave, later transformed into a tiny chapel. The place then evolved structurally from a primitive cenoby, becoming a true sanctuary to which people flock from all over the surrounding area. Over time, various hermits followed, then the Franciscan friars (the Madonna with Child and two adoring friars are frescoed in the apse, strongly reminiscent of Giotto), then the Jesuits and still other hermits, until 1800. After that date, it fell into a state of abandonment and almost total decay. In the sights of building speculation, the monumental complex suffered attacks of all kinds: the continuous landslides from the overlying ridge, the damage to the load-bearing structure with the removal of blocks and the dumping of waste of all kinds aimed above all to discourage any cultural activity in situ and above all the visits of both local believers and scholars. The praiseworthy initiative of the FAI ignites new hopes.

In the off-season (end of October) I was even able to get a guided tour at 2pm without booking in advance.

Long, steep stairs lead down

Many ancient passages, sometimes narrow, sometimes wide

Napoli sotterranea is a parallel city born together with the current city and extends under the entire historic center at a depth of over 40 meters. The Official and Authorized route of Napoli Sotterranea starts from Piazza San Gaetano 68, on Via dei Tribunali next to the Basilica di San Paolo Maggiore.

Stairs lead from the Chiesa di San Lorenzo Maggiore seven meters below today's street level. In just a few minutes you can travel back in time almost 2,000 years to the middle of a completely preserved Roman commercial and residential street.

Entrance to the oldest and only officially recognized tour of the 'Underground City'. Massimiliano, one of the guides, spent 1h30 with us with exciting facts about the Greek Neapolis, which lives on in today's cityscape. Highlights of the tour were underground growing plants 🪴, the short experience as a Pozzaro🕳️👀🦸 (people who had access to the underground wells below the city and who are immortalized today in the murals of the Quartieri Spagnoli) and above all the discovery of the Greek-Roman theatre 🏛️🎭 as part of today's residential units😲, which can be reached through a gap under a bed (!!!). The tour ends with a small exhibition on the Neapolitan nativity scenes (presepi Napolitani) and their significance outside of the Christian tradition. To avoid the queue (which can sometimes last up to 3 hours), it is recommended to purchase tickets 🎟️🎟️ in advance on the website.