Napoli, Campania, Italy
Historical references
Posillipo already appears in the sources of the ancient Greeks, the first to inhabit the promontory then entirely covered by rocks and trees. There are Roman ruins near the banks as well as near the highest point of the hill; you can see the remains of the openings that ventilated the tunnel that led to the residence of Publio Vedio Pollione. There are also remains of an amphitheatre. With the end of the ancient age, the population of Naples closed into the fortified area and the entire area fell into decline, completely prey to barbaric invasions and carelessness.
In the modern age, the area remained substantially underdeveloped until the construction of Via Posillipo between 1812 and 1824. The road begins at the port of Mergellina and extends along the coast, almost parallel to the shore.
Much of the area has been heavily rebuilt since World War II, but has retained several historic buildings, including Villa Rosebery, the residence owned by the President of the Republic[3].
Monuments and sights
The remains of the Villa of Pausilypon and the Theatre
On the tip of Cape Posillipo lies the Gaiola Submerged Park, established in 2002 jointly by the Ministries of the Environment and Cultural Heritage, in the waters surrounding the islets of Gaiola, extends from the small harbour of Marechiaro to the Bay of Trentaremi, for the purpose of both Archaeological and Environmental protection. Another important site is the Imperial Villa of Pausilypon, where, among one of the best views of the Gulf, you can also admire the remains of the imposing Theatre and some theatres. Another source of pride is the singular Schilizzi Mausoleum, one of the best examples of Italian neo-Egyptian architectural style, which now serves as a memorial to the fallen of the two world wars.
Transportation and road
The Posillipo hill is crossed by four main roads almost parallel: via Posillipo that runs parallel to the coast from Mergellina to Cape Posillipo, via Francesco Petrarca (formerly "Via Panoramica") in a higher position with characteristic views of the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius, the ancient streets of Marzano and Porta Posillipo (one after the other) and via Alessandro Manzoni (formerly "via Patrizi").
It is worth noting the Via Pascoli that leads from the quadrivium of the Cape of Posillipo to the ancient farmhouse. Another important artery is Via Orazio which, passing through Via Petrarca, connects Mergellina with the district of "Porta Posillipo", in the upper part of the neighborhood. On this street there is the lookout point where the famous pine tree of Naples was located, a symbol of Neapolitan 20th-century oleography. The hilly part of the Posillipo district is vertically connected by the Mergellina Funicular, a famous urban and engineering work (praised in the verses of Salvatore Di Giacomo in the marble plaque at its entrance) whose construction started the urbanization of the hilly area around the 1930s. It starts from the coastal area of Mergellina and leads to the top of the hill (Via Manzoni) stopping at 3 other points, "S. Antonio" near the sanctuary of the same name, "S. Gioacchino" in the heart of Via Orazio and "Parco Angelina" near Via Stazio and Via Giovenale.
In particular, in Via Petrarca the municipality had to establish a surveillance service because the drivers at the wheel slowed down significantly to be able to look at the panorama, thus clogging up vehicle traffic. The problem was solved by establishing parking lots and a long panoramic terrace. [4] Among the four streets, Via Posillipo has the highest number of ancient buildings, while the other three were intensely affected by the massive city building of the last post-war period, although it did not reach the excesses of other areas of the municipality. There are numerous restaurants on the entire hill.
« This happiness has not yet completely abandoned Naples. The dazzling white roads lead to Posillipo, and the view that opens on the volcanic forms of Cape Miseno and Phlegrean Fields blends with the taste of the fine dust and bitter-salted humidity of the sea wind
"(Pavel Pavlovic Muratov)
