Galleria Borbonica

The Bourbon Tunnel aka Galleria Borbonica is a small masterpiece of civil engineering designed by architect Errico Alvino in 1853. Surrounded by the aqueduct of the Renaissance, the Tunnel was built for Ferdinand II of Bourbon to provide him a safe route in case of riots. It was used then by the citizens as a bomb shelter during WWII and later became an impound lot for cars and motorcycles until 1970.

In addition, you will see pieces of sculptures and vintage artifacts, the ancient carpenter’s rooms, a World War II museum, underground caves, used to extract tuff stone to build the Palazzo Serra di Cassano, that were turned into cisterns during the period of the aqueduct system (of the 15th/16th century).

This is the place where you will get to see the restored ancient cistern. If you opt for an adventure tour (yes you can) then after wearing your helmet and using a torch, you will visit the water tanks and the narrow routes made by the “pozzari”, the workers of the ancient aqueduct system. In addition, you will reach some spots of the Bourbon Tunnel, like the main room where the vintage vehicles are parked. Walking on an ancient bridge you will be able to reach a huge water-tank, connected to an abandoned subway tunnel, flooded and navigable for a few meters on a small raft.

During the war period, between 1939 and 1945, the Tunnel and some former neighboring cisterns were used as a shelter for citizens. Here found refuge between 5,000 and 10,000 Neapolitans, many of whom lost their homes during the numerous bombings suffered by the city, both by the allies and the Germans.

An exciting tour right into the underground depths where it is possible to admire what has been done in the subsoil places in the last five hundred years. This tour starts from the surface, with an explanation of the Palazzo Serra di Cassano’s history and its courtyard; moving towards the basement of the ancient building, you will reach the underground. In the basement rooms, the ancient carpenter’s rooms, there is a World War II museum: you will find some authentic objects of the time, found in the subsoil.

The tour doesn’t stop. You will reach the underground caves, used to extract tuff stone to build the Palazzo Serra di Cassano, then turned into cisterns during the period of the aqueduct system (of the 15th/16th century); this is the place where we have restored an ancient cistern. You will see a part of the Bourbon Tunnel too while exiting from the Morelli Car Parking

In essence, the Bourbon Tunnel and the surrounding underground environments represent a description of the last 500 years of Naples’ history. One of the two entrances is on Via Domenico Morelli, 61 c/o Morelli Car Parking – Around Vittoria Square, which is very close to Castel dell’Ovo. MORE