Bourbon Tunnel, Naples

Historic Site in Naples

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Associazione Culturale Borbonica Sotterranea

Hidden beneath the elegant streets around Piazza del Plebiscito, the Bourbon Tunnel (Galleria Borbonica) reveals a very different side of Naples: a world of tuffstone galleries, forgotten cisterns, and dusty wartime relics. Originally designed in the 19th century as a secret escape route for the Bourbon royal family, this underground passage runs beneath the Pizzofalcone hill, linking the Royal Palace with the military barracks area near Via Morelli and the San Ferdinando quarter. Today, guided tours take you through dimly lit tunnels, past vintage cars, motorbikes, and even a discarded fascist monument, making it one of the top attractions in Naples for travellers who enjoy unusual, atmospheric experiences.

The tunnel's origins are rooted in royal anxiety. Commissioned by King Ferdinand II of Bourbon, still haunted by stories of the 1647 Revolt of Masaniello and the danger posed by an angry population, the project was conceived as both a military corridor and a discreet escape route. Designed by architect Errico Alvino, the Galleria Reale, as it was first called, was meant to be a dual-lane passage with sidewalks, linking the Royal Palace to the Caserma della Vittoria. Although the fall of the Bourbon dynasty halted construction, the tunnel later served as a bomb shelter during World War II, protecting Neapolitans from air raids. Walking through it now, with crumbling walls and layers of history all around you, feels like stepping into a living time capsule that is often visited on walking tours of Naples combining surface streets with the hidden “lower city.”

History and Significance of the Bourbon Tunnel
Things to See and Do in the Bourbon Tunnel
How to Get to the Bourbon Tunnel
Practical Tips on Visiting the Bourbon Tunnel
Where to Stay close to the Bourbon Tunnel
Is the Bourbon Tunnel Worth Visiting?
FAQs for Visiting Bourbon Tunnel
Nearby Attractions to the Bourbon Tunnel

History and Significance of the Bourbon Tunnel

The story of the Bourbon Tunnel begins in a period of political tension and royal suspicion. In the mid-19th century, King Ferdinand II of Bourbon feared the revolutionary spirit of Naples' citizens and wanted a secure way to move between the Royal Palace and the nearby barracks without passing through potentially hostile streets. The memory of the Viceroy's narrow escape during the 1647 Revolt of Masaniello, when he fled the urban palace to the safer Castel Sant'Elmo, helped shape the idea of an underground escape route.

Errico Alvino, a prominent architect of the time, was tasked with turning this idea into reality. His design envisioned a long, double-lane tunnel with sidewalks, running beneath the Pizzofalcone hill. It would have two primary exits: one to the west on Via della Pace (today Via Morelli) opposite the Caserma della Vittoria, and one to the east near Piazza Carolina, behind the basilica of San Francesco di Paola. The planned lanes were even given names: Strada Regia heading toward Chiaia and Strada Regina in the opposite direction, underscoring how closely the tunnel was tied to royal power and military control.

However, history overtook the project. Just two years after construction began, the Bourbon dynasty fell, and work on the Galleria Reale stopped. The unfinished spaces were later integrated into Naples' dense underground network, already shaped by the older Carmignano aqueduct from the 1620s. During World War II, the abandoned passage became a lifeline again: a bomb shelter where Neapolitans crowded together during air raids. Today, the Galleria Borbonica is a museum of sorts for underground history, where royal fears, engineering ambition, wartime desperation, and urban decay all meet in a single, haunting space.

Things to See and Do in the Bourbon Tunnel

A visit to the Bourbon Tunnel is always guided, and there are usually several routes or tour types to choose from, ranging from standard walks to more adventurous itineraries that include narrow side passages or old cisterns. As you descend from one of the three entrances-Vico del Grottone near Piazza del Plebiscito, Via Morelli inside the Morelli parking facility, or Via Monte di Dio via Palazzo Serra di Cassano-you leave the noise of Naples behind and enter a cool, echoing world of rock and brick.

Along the way, you’ll see evidence of the tunnel’s many lives. There are sections of the old Carmignano aqueduct, carved cisterns that once stored water for the city, and broad chambers where wartime shelters were hastily arranged. The floors and alcoves are cluttered with relics: vintage cars and scooters abandoned after the war, broken furniture, fragments of statues, and a fascist-era monument once intended for Aurelio Padovani, now lying out of place and out of time. Guides bring these objects to life with stories about the people who hid here, worked here, or tried to escape through these passageways.

One of the most striking elements of a visit is the sense of layering: above you are royal palaces, elegant squares, and modern traffic; around you are tuffstone walls bearing drill marks and scars from centuries of use; at your feet lie the remnants of different eras pushed into the underground when they were no longer needed. Depending on the tour, you may walk through vast galleries, cross bridges over old cisterns, or see areas blackened by wartime candles and makeshift stoves. It's an unusual, immersive way to understand how Naples is built not just in height but also in depth.

How to Get to the Bourbon Tunnel

The Bourbon Tunnel has three different entrances spread around the central area of Naples, all close to major landmarks and easy to include in a wider city walk. If you arrive by air at Naples International Airport (Capodichino), you can reach the city centre by taxi, rideshare, or airport bus, then walk or use public transport to get to Piazza del Plebiscito, Via Morelli, or Via Monte di Dio, depending on which tour entrance you choose. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Naples on Booking.com.

From Napoli Centrale railway station at Piazza Garibaldi, you can take the metro to central stops such as Toledo, Municipio, or Piazza Amedeo, and then walk to the relevant meeting point: Vico del Grottone (near Piazza del Plebiscito and the Royal Palace), the Morelli parking entrance on Via D. Morelli, or Palazzo Serra di Cassano on Via Monte di Dio. Use Omnio to easily compare schedules, book train tickets, and find the best prices all in one place for a hassle-free journey across Italy. Many visitors also arrive on foot from the historic centre, combining a surface walk through Spaccanapoli and Piazza del Plebiscito with an underground visit.

If you are travelling by car, you will find the Via D. Morelli entrance particularly convenient, as it is located inside or next to the Morelli parking facility, allowing you to park and then join your tour directly from there. If you are looking to rent a car in Italy I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you. However, given Naples’ traffic and limited central parking, many travellers still prefer to leave the car outside the core and rely on walking or public transport to reach the tunnel.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Bourbon Tunnel

Suggested tips: Book your tour in advance, especially in peak seasons, as group sizes are limited and different routes may sell out.
Best time to visit: Late morning or afternoon works well; the constant cool temperature underground makes it a pleasant break from summer heat or winter rain.
Entrance fee: Adults: €10.00
Opening hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays:
Tour Start times: 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, 17:00
Official website: https://www.galleriaborbonica.com/en/home/
How long to spend: Expect around 1-2 hours, depending on the tour you choose, allowing time to listen to explanations and explore at a relaxed pace.
Accessibility: The tunnel includes steps, uneven surfaces, and occasionally narrow sections; it is not fully accessible, so visitors with mobility issues should check suitability before booking.
Facilities: There are no full facilities underground, so use restrooms and grab water before the tour; nearby cafés and bars around Piazza del Plebiscito and Via Chiaia fill in the gaps.
Photography tip: Light levels are low, so bring a camera or phone that handles dim conditions well, and focus on contrasts between rock, relics, and shafts of artificial light.
Guided tours: Choose a guided route that fits your comfort level-standard walking tours for general interest, or more adventurous itineraries if you’re happy with tighter spaces and longer walks.
Nearby food options: After resurfacing, reward yourself with pizza, coffee, or gelato in the streets around Piazza del Plebiscito, Via Chiaia, or the Santa Lucia waterfront.

Where to Stay close to the Bourbon Tunnel

Staying near Piazza del Plebiscito or the Chiaia and San Ferdinando districts makes it easy to reach all three Bourbon Tunnel entrances while keeping you close to the waterfront and historic centre. For a stylish base just a few minutes' walk from Piazza del Plebiscito and Via Toledo, Grand Hotel Oriente offers comfortable rooms and convenient access to metro and bus links. If you prefer a more elegant, neighbourhood feel near the seafront and Via Chiaia, Palazzo Alabardieri places you within easy reach of the Via Morelli entrance and the promenade. For a boutique option steps from the main square and royal quarter, Hotel Matilde - Lifestyle Hotel gives you a refined, modern base with quick access to both the tunnel tours and nearby landmarks.

Is the Bourbon Tunnel Worth Visiting?

The Bourbon Tunnel is absolutely worth visiting if you are curious about the hidden side of Naples and enjoy history with a slightly eerie edge. Unlike museums or churches, this is a place where you feel history physically, from the damp tuffstone walls to the wartime graffiti and abandoned relics. It tells a multi-layered story: royal paranoia, ambitious 19th-century engineering, wartime fear, and post-war neglect, all preserved below a city that rarely stands still. For many visitors, it becomes one of the most memorable experiences of their trip, adding depth-literally and figuratively-to their understanding of Naples.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

Galleria Borbonica sits beneath Via Domenico Morelli beside the Morelli parking area and offers guided underground tours through extensive tunnels and caves once used as WWII shelters; visitors praise knowledgeable, entertaining guides and find the experience fascinating and cool on hot days, though the entrance is easy to miss and the stairs down are steep and narrow, so proper footwear and comfort with confined spaces are recommended; some guests found the tour restrictive and noted a small display of cars and antiques for sale, and others mentioned that dogs are sometimes allowed on tours which can be distracting.

FAQs for Visiting Bourbon Tunnel

The main entrances are at Vico del Grottone 4 near Piazza del Plebiscito, Via D. Morelli 61 inside or beside the Morelli parking, and Via Monte di Dio 14 in Palazzo Serra di Cassano (Int. A14).

Yes, it is strongly recommended to book ahead, as visits are guided only and group sizes are limited by safety regulations.

Many sections are spacious, but there are also narrower passages and enclosed areas; if you are very claustrophobic, you may find parts of the tour uncomfortable.

Children can visit when accompanied by adults, but the atmosphere, darkness, and historical content may be more suitable for older kids and teenagers.

Nearby Attractions to the Bourbon Tunnel

Piazza del Plebiscito: Naples' grand central square, framed by the Royal Palace and the church of San Francesco di Paola.
Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale): Historic Bourbon residence with opulent rooms, courtyards, and views toward the bay.
Galleria Umberto I: A 19th-century glass-roofed shopping arcade showcasing Naples' Belle Époque elegance.
Castel dell'Ovo: Seafront fortress on a small peninsula, offering panoramic views and a charming harbour at Borgo Marinari.
Via Chiaia and Via Toledo: Lively shopping and strolling streets linking the royal quarter, seafront, and historic centre with cafés, boutiques, and street life.

The Bourbon Tunnel appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Naples!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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