The underground of Naples is rich in history and mysteries related to the extraction of tuff and the creation of engineering works. The city, built on a tuff terrain with numerous natural caves, has seen its inhabitants exploit this geology to dig wells, catacombs, and cisterns since Roman times.

During wars, the underground Naples served as a refuge. This happened both in the Middle Ages and during the Second World War, when thousands of Neapolitans took shelter in the tunnels to escape bombings. Even today, graffiti and signs from that period are visible, testimonies of underground daily life during the conflict.

Naples’ underground also hosted particular burials, as in the case of the Fontanelle cemetery, where the remains of over 40,000 people are kept, many victims of epidemics. Among the bones, there are the “capuzzelle,” anonymous skulls linked to the cult of the “pezzentelle souls.” In popular culture, praying on one of these skulls is considered a way to obtain important revelations, even winning lottery numbers.

A legendary character linked to the underground Naples is the Munaciello, a “little monk” employed for cistern maintenance. These agile “well-diggers” could move through the tunnels and wells, giving rise to legends about their silent presence. In folklore, the Munaciello has become a benevolent or malevolent sprite, depending on its sympathy towards those it encounters, leaving small gifts or causing minor mischief.