Galleria Borbonica

Tunnel Borbonico

Useful Information

Location:	Entrance 1: Vico del Grottone, 4 - Zona Piazza del Plebiscito, 80132 Napoli NA. Entrance 2: Via D. Morelli, 61 - c/o Parcheggio Morelli, 80132 Napoli NA. Entrance 3: Via Monte di Dio, 14 - Palazzo Serra di Cassano - Int. A14, 80132 Napoli NA. (40.8354768, 14.2462770)
Open:	Standard Tour: All year Fri-Sun, Hol 10, 12, 15, 17. Via delle Memorie: All year Fri-Sun, Hol 11, 16. Adventure Tour: All year Fri-Sun, Hol 10, 12, 15, 17. Via delle Memorie: All year Fri-Sun 11, 16. [2026]
Fee:	Standard Tour: Adults EUR 15, Children (6-18) EUR 10, Seniors (70+) EUR 10, Children (0-5) free, Disabled EUR 7. Via delle Memorie: Adults EUR 15, Children (6-18) EUR 10, Seniors (70+) EUR 10, Children (0-5) free, Disabled EUR 7. Adventure Tour: Adults EUR 20. Via delle Memorie: Adults EUR 20. [2026]
Classification:	Tunnel World War II Bunker Cistern
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:	Standard Tour: D=1 h. Via delle Memorie: D=1 h. Adventure Tour: D=85 min, MinAge=10. Via delle Memorie: D=1 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Galleria Borbonica, Vico del Grottone, 3, 80132 Napoli NA, Tel: +39-081-764-5808, Cell: +39-366-248-4151. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

19-FEB-1853	Ferdinand II of Bourbon signs a decree commissioning the architect Errico Alvino.
1853	designed by architect Errico Alvino.
1970	tunnel closed.
2014	reopened for public tours under the new name Galleria Borbonica.

Description

Galleria Borbonica or Tunnel Borbonico (Bourbon Tunnel) is a huge tunnel connecting Via Domenico Morelli and the Basilica di San Francesco di Paola. The tunnel is about 430 m long, straight, and rather spacious. Its name is originally Il Tunnel Borbonico derived from King Ferdinand II of Bourbon who ordered its constructions when he reigned over Sicily and Naples. It was designed by architect Errico Alvino in 1853, with a trapezoidal section which is 12 m wide and 12 m high. There was a tumultuous period marked by riots and uprisings, the tunnel was intended as a secret royal escape route. At this time it connected the Royal Palace to the military barracks, but it was also connected to the existing Carmignano aqueduct system from the early 17th century. The tunnel was dug into the volcanic tufa, the deposits of eruptions of nearby Monte Vesuvio. But as the king died before the tunnel was completed, it was left unfinished, and soon it was forgotten.

The second phase of the history was in World War II. The need for air raid shelters from allied bombing for the population of the city made it necessary to find, open and secure all underground space. This huge tunnel was big enough to house up to 10,000 Neapolitans. They quickly grabbed some items, mostly food and clothes, and ran for the air raid shelter. When they left they forgot or dumped stuff, which still lays in the tunnel today. Tose items are widespread, including children's toys, gas masks, and personal items like hairbrushes. Also, the infrastructure like toilet blocks and beds was abandoned in the tunnel after the war, the people had more important problems at that time. Actually they intentionally used it as a dumping ground for wartime items which were not appropriate any more, like fascist statues. Later impounded cars and Vespas were dumped here. This lasted until the 1970s, when the tunnel was closed and soon forgotten.

The third period is the tourist site, it started in the early 2000s when the tunnel was reopened and equipped with light and trails. It was opened to tourists under the slightly modified name Galleria Borbonica for unknown reasons. The main sight were actually the wealth of artifacts from World War II, the historic cars and the vespas. Though not working any more, and although they were in a rather humid environment, they are rather well preserved and have a quirky charm.

The tunnel has three entrances, and offers four different tours, which is actually a little weird. The Standard Tour takes an hour and is offered all year. Reservation is mandatory, the tour takes an hour and shows the developed main passage. It is suitable for children and even disabled. This tour is offered from entrances 1 and 2. You might think that a tour which is offered from two different entrances might show different parts of the tunnel, but actually the tour takes an hour and the tunnel is only 400 m long, so the round trip is the same, just the starting point differs.

The Via delle Memorie tour starts at the Palazzo Serra di Cassano (entrance 3) and explains its history and shows the underground structures. The basement has ancient carpenter’s rooms and a World War II museum but both are not part of this tour. Down long staircases underground rock mines which were transformed into cisterns during the 15th/16th century are reached. One of those cisterns was restzored and again contains water. The tour then leaves this sidebranch through the Bourbon Tunnel and returns to the surface through entrance 2.

Adventure tour and Speleo Light tour show the unlighted and undeveloped part of the passage and side passages. As always they require reservation, enough participants and more, check their website for more dates. Participants are equipped with helmet and headlamp, walking shoes and appropriate clothes are necessary. There is a minimum age requirement, the tours are not suitable for people with disabilities, and you must not suffer from claustrophobia. The Adventure tour shows the ancient aqueduct system including the water tanks and the narrow routes made by the “pozzari”. Also, an abandoned subway tunnel which is flooded is navigated on a small raft. The Speleo Tour Light does have open hours, however, there is no possibility for individuals to book, it is only offered for groups. The tour shows sections of the ancient underground acqueduct system which are quite narrow and low, requires crawling and stooping. Main sight is a group of water tanks of the 15th century full of religious symbols carved by the upkeepers of the ancient underground water network. Both tours start and end at entrance 2. All tours are offered by the Associazione Culturale Borbonica Sotterranea.