Parco Vergiliano e Crypta Neapolitana
Salita della Grotta, Napoli, 80122 NA, Italia
Lets clarify a couple of things: this is Mergellina area and not Posillipo and here, in Vergiliano Park, you can find the grave of one of the most expert in translating Greek and Latin classics, which we used to love when we were at school: we are talking about Virgilio, which in Latin was pronounced Vergilius. Now we look like our good old Latin and Greek teacher.
Actually “Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta” (this is its real name) hosts two graves: there is the very fun Leopardi who keeps Virgilio company. The two graves are placed on a uphill path (sweat is good, culture is sweaty! Ok we stop now!). Our first stop will be Leopardi, well knows as #neverajoy, while the second one will bring us to the good and old Virgilio. Just a little thing: throughout this path there are plants and flowers these two writers used to describe in their works. If your intention is to pluck them out as your revenge for your literature grades, be kind anyway!
Keeping going, you will see the magic Neapolitan Crypt, which is a very scary place. Tradition has it was build all in one night by Virgilio, thanks to his magic. To be honest, that could easily be a false belief, and it could be branded as a legend which comes from the lively Neapolitan folk.
What we know for sure is the cave was built by the Roman general Agrippa, who wanted to ease military travels in between the Neapolitan gulf and Pozzuoli area, where the Navy base is located. In the 1700s the flooring was accomplished and the lighting was introduced on the following century; this allowed adventurers to go through it without their torches.
