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Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta

Salita della Grotta, 80122 Napoli, Italia ★★★★☆ 152 views
Kim Taylor
Napoli
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About Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta

Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta - Napoli | Secret World Trip Planner

long was privately owned but was later acquired by the state after the Unification of Italy. It was rearranged in 1885, on the occasion of the opening of today's Four Days Gallery, but it was only around 1930, on the occasion of the bimillenary of the Virgilian Celebrations, that it became a Park. It was arranged according to the current itinerary at the behest of Latinist and archaeologist Enrico Cocchia, and restored and reopened to the public in 1976. It is a national monument. The park contains Virgil's cenotaph, a Roman-era columbarium traditionally believed to be the poet's tomb. It also houses, since February 22, 1939, the tomb of Giacomo Leopardi, who died in Naples and was initially buried in the church of San Vitale Martire in Fuorigrotta.

Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta - Napoli | Secret World Trip Planner

Admission to the museum is free. After a short climb, we find ourselves in front of a huge Altar: the tomb of the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi. The tomb is represented by a tall altar with a rather wide square base, inside a tuffaceous cave.

On the altar is the poet's name and next to it is a stele, engraved on the stone, proving the trustworthiness of the tomb by the Italian government, signed by Victor Emmanuel III. Finally, the first sepulchral monument, previously placed in the pronaos of the church of San Vitale, is placed nearby. Finally visible is the plaque, also from the pronaos, bearing Umberto I's sanction of the law passed in 1897, whereby the poet's tomb was declared a national monument by the chambers.

Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta - Napoli | Secret World Trip Planner

Walking further on, we find on the right the Crypta Neapolitana, also known as the Pozzuoli or Posillipo Cave, an imposing Roman-era tunnel connecting Mergellina with Fuorigrotta (currently said tunnel is under restoration). On the side is a verse by Leopardi, dedicated to the poet of the Aeneid, Virgil.

On the way to the cave, one notices on the left a piperno aedicule displaying two tombstones placed there in 1668 by Viceroy Pietro Antonio of Aragon. These tombstones list the diseases that could be cured thanks to the thermal waters in the Phlegraean area.

Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta - Napoli | Secret World Trip Planner
Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta - Napoli | Secret World Trip Planner
Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta - Napoli | Secret World Trip Planner
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  1. 🌅
    Morning
    Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta
    📍 Napoli
  2. ☀️
    Afternoon
    The Crypta Neapolitana, also known as the Old Cave of Pozzuoli
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  3. 🌆
    Evening
    Fountain of the Siren in Naples
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Frequently Asked Questions

No, admission to Vergiliano Park is completely free for all visitors. This makes it an excellent budget-friendly attraction to explore while in Naples, allowing you to see the tombs and historical monuments without any entrance cost.
The park contains Virgil's cenotaph (a Roman-era columbarium traditionally believed to be the poet's tomb) and Giacomo Leopardi's tomb, which has been housed there since 1939 in a tall altar within a tuffaceous cave. You'll also find the Crypta Neapolitana, an impressive Roman tunnel, and historical plaques signed by Italian kings certifying the authenticity and national monument status of these sites.
Although the land was acquired by the state after Italian Unification and rearranged in 1885, it officially became a park around 1930 during the bimillenary celebrations of Virgil. It was later restored and reopened to the public in 1976 and is now designated as a national monument.
Giacomo Leopardi died in Naples and was initially buried in the church of San Vitale Martire in Fuorigrotta, but his tomb was transferred to Vergiliano Park on February 22, 1939. This relocation honored the poet by placing him alongside Virgil's cenotaph in this historically significant literary memorial.
The Crypta Neapolitana, also known as the Pozzuoli or Posillipo Cave, is an imposing Roman-era tunnel that originally connected Mergellina with Fuorigrotta and can be found on the right side of the park path. Currently the tunnel is undergoing restoration, and nearby there is a verse by Leopardi dedicated to Virgil engraved in stone.