Galleria Borbonica

The Galleria Borbonica is one of the most unusual experiences in Naples: a walk through a tunnel that King Ferdinand II of Bourbon commissioned in 1853 to link the Royal Palace with the military barracks, giving the royal family a protected route for troops and, if necessary, an escape. The architect Errico Alvino designed it, but the king died and the kingdom fell before it was finished, and the tunnel was soon forgotten. It connects with the much older Carmignano aqueduct and its cisterns, dating from the early 17th century.

During the Second World War the tunnels were turned into an air-raid shelter for up to 10,000 people, and the belongings they left behind are still there. After the war the space was used as a judicial dump, and it filled up with impounded cars, Vespa scooters, wartime objects and even fascist-era statues. The rusting vehicles, well preserved despite the humidity, are now the most photographed sight on the tour. The site was closed in 1970 and reopened for visits in the 21st century, run by the Associazione Culturale Borbonica Sotterranea.

Several routes are offered. The Standard Tour lasts about an hour; the Via delle Memorie starts at Palazzo Serra di Cassano on Via Monte di Dio. The Adventure Tour, about 85 minutes and for ages ten and over, explores further sections of the underground, with a helmet and headlamp provided. A Speleo Light tour is available for groups only. Tours run from Friday to Sunday and on holidays, with set departure times, and reservation is mandatory.

The Standard Tour is listed as accessible, while the Adventure and Speleo tours are unsuitable for visitors with disabilities. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a light layer, as it is cooler underground. Photography is permitted, so bring a camera that copes with low light. The tunnel is about 400 metres long and up to 12 metres wide and high in places.

It suits families with children, history buffs and anyone who has already seen Napoli Sotterranea and wants another side of the city's underground. The main entrance is on Vico del Grottone, a lane just off Piazza del Plebiscito; a second entrance is in the Morelli car park on Via Domenico Morelli in Chiaia. Municipio and Toledo stations on metro Line 1 are the nearest stops.