La Neapolis Sotterrata - Complesso Monumentale San Lorenzo Maggiore
La Neapolis Sotterrata - Complesso Monumentale San Lorenzo Maggiore
La Neapolis Sotterrata - Complesso Monumentale San Lorenzo Maggiore
4.5
About
Historical Description When was Neapolis founded? It is not clear the specific date but archaeological studies show the late sixth - early fifth century BC. Initially were only inhabitants coming from the city of Cuma, then others settlers were also added: Calcidesi, Pithecusan, (today's citizens from Ischia) and the Athenians. The urban layout of Neapolis is structured in a regular network of streets. History and archeology, architecture, sculpture and painting of San Lorenzo Maggiore Complex had already written important chapters in the history of Naples. It can be assumed that St. Lawrence complex - geographically and topographically- is the heart of Old Naples The deepest backgrounds of the complex of San Lorenzo can be found in the basement of the Greek - Roman Neapolis, at the "Via Augustale", where, in the Roman period were stationed the general markets. At the end of the fifth century AD, a huge flood, a mixture of mud, stones and water buried the whole area. Later it was built an Early Christian Basilica dedicated to St. Lawrence Martyr. John Bishop of Aversa donated the early Christian basilica of S. Lorenzo to the Friars Minor, in 1234. The primary Basilica was later replaced by the current monument, which construction began in 1284 under King Charles I of Anjou. The Friars Minor have devised the new complex of S. Lorenzo, supported and protected by the Anjou King, who provided a constant devotion to the brothers of St. Francis of Assisi, favoring them with generous donations and lands. A particular event explains the deep pledge between the Angevin sovereigns to the Friars Minor: a son of Charles II of Anjou, Ludovico, attracted by Franciscan Friaries way, joined the Order of Friars Minor. Ludovico was elected bishop of Toulouse Immediately after his religious profession. He had lived poor and died very young, in 1297; he was canonized in 1317 by Pope John XXII. The Archeological Area The model that we cross just entered the cloister, makes us understand how was settled the Roman market. Neapolis had three main streets: the upper decumanus currently via Anticaglie; the Major decumanus currently Via Tribunali and the lower decumanus, currently Via San Biaggio dei Librai or better known as Spaccanapoli. The underground archaeological area of San Lorenzo Maggiore extends below the transept of the Angevin church, the chapter house and the southern arm and the west of the monastery. The monument in tuff blocks of IV-III century. B.C. was replaced by a building market to the imperial age. It is arranged on two floors exploiting the existing natural gap between the portion of the street stalls and the Courts of stenopos in alignment with Vico Giganti, visible in the archaeological underground area. The complex as a whole seems to be the result of a unified building program, but it is currently not possible to determine what date from the initial phase of this impressive monumental structure is. The most recognizable part of the romans buildings is date based by the technical construction in the late first - early second century. A.D., after the earthquakes of 62 and 64 A.D. and the eruption of 79 A.D. Only a few clues remain of the late Republican and Augustan period, despite the Emperor Augustus and his descendants has been attributed many edifice projects in the city. The construction previous mentioned was composed of two floors. The first floor was occupied by "macellum", a market intended for sale of foodstuffs, consisting of a rectangular space porch with circular pavilion of the tholos at the center. It invokes a common type of Hellenistic period, attested to the imperial age in Campania at Pompeii and Pozzuoli in the Serapeum. The tholos was part of an enclosure with a mosaic of large white tiles, which opened a porch covered with marble slabs. The tholos was a small temple. It was the place where merchants were offering the first fruits to God hoping to get back multiply profits. The basement of the circular building is preserved, three steps with a few tracks with marble facing and part of a terracotta funnel. It is now partially visible an oval slot realized on the occasion of the re-paving of the cloister. The main entrance was on Via Tribunali, while the stairs connect the lower level of the monument, to the portion of stenapos in the underground archaeological area.The eastern front of the complex includes a small building in the North organized into two narrow shafts interconnected with brick facade punctuated by a pediment with two pilasters, in which a door opens and a tiny window of a thick railing. Toward to the south nine tabernae bipartite in two adjoining spaces, with a vaulted ceiling: the facade is made of brickwork, instead the perimeter walls and partitions of rooms were in reticulate. In such environments can be observed, reflecting the commercial use of the area, elements such as an oven and tanks, which, often documenting phases of use of a later period the original structure. a. The first tavern is "Erarium" today would be called the bank. Probably romans preserved the treasure of the city! The place is particularly interesting for the signs from the big iron bars. b. Tabernae fulloniche today would be called dyeing. You can admire tubs and sinks where were brought cloths, washed and dyed with natural detergents soda, clay, purple and uric acid. c. Bakery. Someone jokingly calls "the grandmother’s pizzerias” It is interesting to note the shape of the dome of the oven and the cooker top. To the south of the modular system, tabernae bind to a cryptoporticus, a long basement corridor reticulate and brick arches with barrel vaults, divided into smaller adjoining rooms. The building rests, using as the back wall, on the screen in yellow tuff blocks of the fourth century BC phase. In the cryptoporticus can be admired the stone counters, of uncertain interpretation, however, given the presence of small flow channels of water perhaps were used to expose and sell fish. Entering in a new environment where you notice a water collector, perhaps of Greek origin: it is important to note the arrangement of stones, placed in barrels, round shape with a particular shape and without the mortar between the stones. All block interlocked. The age we talk about 150-200 BC The following environments were more elegant edifices, that were built with better materials as can be seen from the mosaic floors and “impluvium”, a gush of water inputs of Roman." These rooms were a particularly popular venue for meetings of philosophers and political scientists called "scole". In the last area after the corridor, on the right wall, you can see a few remains of frescoes and mosaic floor in particular. Chapter Hall In the middle of the east side of the cloister is the entrance to the Chapter Hall, decorated with a Gothic portal of the second quarter of the fourteenth century, flanked by beautiful windows with four lights and surmounted by a low arch bezel. Above these beautiful quadrifore it was found parts of a fresco (and recently restored), probably painted by a strict observance unknown artist disciple of Giotto around 1340, depicting St. Francis, who gives the rule to friaries and the Poor Clares of Assisi. The fresco was detached years ago and kept inside of the Museum; it is curious to observe how this fourteenth-century fresco was the model of the table of Colantonio with the same subject, part of the altarpiece for the Sanchez family, one time was kept in San Lorenzo but now is on the Museum of Capodimonte. The Chapter Hall is 7.50 meters high, wide 16.30 meters and deep 12.8 meters. It preserves the Gothic structure, with six vaults supported by two ancient granite bare columns; in what reminds the Chapter House of St. Augustine at the Mint in Naples, built slightly earlier. There are frescoes with grotesque decorations, allegorical figures of Sand and Villa, with a small central fresco depicting the Virgin Mary and under the 1608 date; in the surrounding walls there are paintings in the shape of trees with fruits representatives of people (men and women) of great cultural value, theological, scientists, kings and queens, followers of St. Francis of Assisi. Its author was almost certainly Luigi Rodriguez. The Sisto V Hall The Sixtus V Hall consists of a great rectangular hall, 43.60 meters long and wide 9.80 meters. The main entrance is an elegant antique vestibule Swabian which, according to Celano, was once frescoed. This majestic hall was for a long time the place of the Neapolitan Parliament meeting. The frescoes on the walls and on the vaults date back to the early 17 century were executed by Luigi Rodriguez, during the reign of Philip III, commissioned by the Viceroy Ferdinando Ruiz Castro and Andrada. The vault is divided into seven compartments, each of which are painted life-size seven Virtues; more precisely, at the center of each compartment it is depicted one of the seven main virtues (Clemenza, Providence, Gravity, Magnificence, Dignity Director, magnanimity, affability), surrounded by four smaller Virtue for each main one. In the semicircles of lateral arch can be seen views of Naples that correspond to the different provinces of the Kingdom: today you can admire them only six. Finally, the decoration of the room is completed with coats of arms, arabesques and allegories. Only the lower part of the perimeter walls, for a height of 4 meters from the floor, it was not covered with frescoes: it was the custom to cover these portions of walls with tapestries and precious fabrics to increase the local magnificence.
Duration: < 1 hour
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4.5
1,862 reviews
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Igor
Wroclaw, Poland30 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
The base ticket was 9€, and for that price there's a lot of better things to see around. The underground was the most interesting part, but the rest didn't really have anything to offer - the museum is mostly empty, with a lot of broken vases/plates/furniture types of things. There's some nice architecture, but nothing really special. The whole visit took us around 40 minutes and we were pretty unsatisfied.
Written January 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wesley Wong
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Family
We accidentally took this tour when we were in a rush and mistook this for the other Napoli Sotterrenaea tour. However, it was a great ‘mistake’, and we really enjoyed this. We paid the 2€ extra for the English guided tour with Orazio, and he is what made things really worth the while. He was an excellent storyteller and we learned so much about the history and architecture of the site in the 50 minutes we spent with him.
We eventually ended up taking the other tour too which had some interesting experiences, but the other tour guide wasn’t anywhere as passionate, knowledgeable or interesting as Orazio. If you visit the Neapolitan Sotterata, you should really take the guided tour to enhance your experience.
We eventually ended up taking the other tour too which had some interesting experiences, but the other tour guide wasn’t anywhere as passionate, knowledgeable or interesting as Orazio. If you visit the Neapolitan Sotterata, you should really take the guided tour to enhance your experience.
Written January 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A_Cats_World
Lugano, Switzerland227 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
Interesting tour and friendly guide . It’s about 30/40 mn and the history is impressive. You buy a ticket and. If you go with a guide it’s 2 euros extra per adult and 1 for children . We didn’t see the other underground tour so we can’t compare.
Written December 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John A
London, UK158 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
Under the church complex, you find yourself walking up a shop-lined street not so different from the ones above. Not claustrophobic, at all. Interesting and informative. Video guide good. You don't need a guided tour but it'll help a lot. The museum is poor - lots of stuff with no interpretation - and can be missed easily!
Written November 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marieke van Katwijk
3 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
We could join the expert tour with guide Oratio. He told amazing things and we could ask questions as many as we liked, and he would answer them all, so knowledgeable and friendly! I would recommend everybody to go on this tour (English)
Written June 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie Lambert
Paris, France10 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We visited it this week and we were very disappointed with the tour. It was very hard to understand the english tour that we had with Omario. I would say to get a personal tour guide or choose the audio guide. At least it was not a lot of money. So, I guess you get what you pay for.
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RicherTrips
Monterrey, Mexico4,596 contributions
Jan 2023
They offer a Soterranea experience, but in small scale, compared with the other one with the cisterns. They insist that this tour is non calustrophobic and that it absolutley true, all wide spaces. The other one is impossible for claustrophobics.
In the underground part, you’ll see a market and a private house. Then, with the same ticket, you can visit the basillica and the beautiful Chapter hall in the cloister.
In the underground part, you’ll see a market and a private house. Then, with the same ticket, you can visit the basillica and the beautiful Chapter hall in the cloister.
Written February 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard H
Leeds, UK418 contributions
Oct 2022
This large complex is at the top of 'Christmas Alley'.
It includes a large ornate church and underground ruins including an old Roman Street.
This was a quiet site and I was often on my own walking round.
The Artecard gives you a reduction (I think it was 20% ish).
It includes a large ornate church and underground ruins including an old Roman Street.
This was a quiet site and I was often on my own walking round.
The Artecard gives you a reduction (I think it was 20% ish).
Written March 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon D
Toronto, Canada47 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
This is not to be confused with the larger more popular Napoli Sotterranea.
While this is a smaller section of the "city underground" I found it to be a worthwhile experience and well worth the extra 1 euro to take the guided tour. You will hear first hand the story of this buried section which they have determined to be an ancient marketplace. You will hear how they surmised which shops were where and how they came to these conclusions. You will also hear an interesting story about urine and it's usefulness in refreshing cloth to be reworked into new pieces of clothing. It is a fun and interesting tour and well worth the price and hour it will take out of your day.
While this is a smaller section of the "city underground" I found it to be a worthwhile experience and well worth the extra 1 euro to take the guided tour. You will hear first hand the story of this buried section which they have determined to be an ancient marketplace. You will hear how they surmised which shops were where and how they came to these conclusions. You will also hear an interesting story about urine and it's usefulness in refreshing cloth to be reworked into new pieces of clothing. It is a fun and interesting tour and well worth the price and hour it will take out of your day.
Written July 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
donatKalamata
Kalamata43 contributions
This church and monastery is -at my opinion- the very example of the character of the Naples old center. In a city with 2.500 years of uninterrupted history you can find its fragments next to or on to another like in patchwork cloth (ancient Greek statues, roman walls, Gothic churches, renaissance palaces, barock facades ect.). Behind the 18th century facade of this church is hiding a Gothic temple of 1200 with funerary sculpture of high quality and a hidden apse which reminds the Notre Dame of Paris. Under it there is situated and well preserved and visitable the Market or "Agora" of the Greek and the Roman period. For me it was fascinating to walk along the tiny rooms that once upon time housed the bakery, the fishman's, the butcher's shop and ...the treasuty of the city. With the same ticket you can climb up to its small but interesting museum, and the hall of the Refectory were for many centuries the city's "parliament" (the Sedili) was gathered. Don't miss it but be careful, the church closes a bit early (1p.m. as I can recall).
Written March 26, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
buonasera, secondo voi il primo di gennaio sarà possibile visitare la Napoli Sotterranea di piazza San Gaetano e se si quale sarà l'orario dell'ultimo ingresso?grazie
Written November 9, 2017
A Tripadvisor member
Naples, Italy
Salve, il. primo. gennaio. saremo aperti tutta la giornata dalle 10.30 alle 18.00.
Cordiali saluti
Written December 11, 2017
Siamo in visita Napoli e abbiamo bisogno di una delucidazione, se così si può dire. Ci siamo accorti che esistono 2 Napoli sotterranee: una si chiama "Neapolis Sotterrata" e l'altra "Napoli Sotterrenea".
Entrambe ahanno siti web dai quali non si capisce assolutamente niente. Anche qui su Tripadvisor c'è un sacco di confusione e qualcuno ha recensito una cosa visitandone un'altra.
Quale differenza c'è fra entrambe???
Grazie a chi vorrà aiutarci.
Written October 31, 2016
Salve, il nostro sito è un Complesso Monumentale composto da moseo, chistro, sale affrescate e area archelogica denominata La Neapolis Sotterrata. La differenza con le altre strutture è che da noi sono visibili i resti del foro romano e dell'agorà greca . Scendendo di circa 15 metri si possono visitare i resti del macellum , ossia dell'antico mercato romano risalento al III sec. a C. Il nostro è un sito archeologico ( se va sul sito mibac e cerca san lorenzo maggiore napoli). Le altre strutture chiamate Napoli Sotterranea, sono delle cave dove si estraevail tufo, riutilizzate nel tempo dai romani per farne l'acquedotto e successivamente usate come rifugio bellico. Spero di eserle stato di aiuto. Cordilai saluti
Written October 31, 2016
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