Underground Naples

The Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore and Underground Naples

The Naples audio-guided tour leads you to the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore, built on a former Roman temple, and to the entrance of fascinating Underground Naples. The place of worship is discovered with respect, while the underground passages plunge into the thousand-year history of the city.

A basilica on an ancient temple

The Basilica of Saint Paul Major rises on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to the twin gods Castor and Pollux. Raised to the rank of minor basilica in 1951, it preserves a rich Baroque interior. Next to it is one of the entrances to Underground Naples: a network of some 80 kilometres and nearly 5,000 cavities, dug from the 5th century BC and used over the ages as quarries, cisterns or shelters.

What there is to see

The Baroque interior of the basilica, magnificent, is worth the detour, in respect of the place of worship. The underground passages were first exploited as tuff quarries by the Greeks, who drew from them the stone of the ramparts of Neapolis, then developed by the Romans. Having become shelters during the Second World War, they now offer a striking visit of the Neapolitan subsoil.

Practical information

The Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore is on Piazza San Gaetano, in the historic centre of Naples; access to the church is generally free. The visit of Underground Naples, nearby, is ticketed and done on a guided tour, with variable hours; it is best to check in advance. A place of worship, the basilica requires proper dress and silence.

What is Underground Naples ?

A vast network of underground passages, about 80 km and 5,000 cavities, dug since Antiquity and used as quarries, cisterns and then shelters.

What is the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore built on ?

On the site of a Roman temple dedicated to the twin gods Castor and Pollux.