Naples underground

The BBC’s series that started last week with fabulous film and virtual reconstructions of tunnels and monuments under present day Naples (#invisiblecities #italy) reminded me of my mini-excursion underground in 2012. Roman remains are built into the arteries of underground Naples and I was fascinated to see how Roman walls and arches were criss-crossed with later construction. First we visited some later tunnels where watercourses ran, then on to the Roman stuff!

Down the steps…

Underground watercourse – not sure of the contents, but it didn’t smell!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poignant reminders from the 1940s when people sheltered from bombing and set up home underground.

 

A small Roman arch to gladden any heart!

 

A much, much bigger arch, filled in.

Recycled street archway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decorative Roman wall to the right – note the diamond pattern and even brickwork – crossed at 90 degrees by some later jumbled bodgy construction.

 

Making our way out along a former Roman street

 

Naples today, overground

 

Pizza, anyone?

See much more at BBC One – Invisible Cities with Dr Michael Scott and Alexander Armstrong.

 

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers INCEPTIO, PERFIDITASSUCCESSIOAURELIA and INSURRECTIO. The sixth, RETALIO, will be published in Spring 2017. Audiobooks now available for the first four of the series

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