A Naples secret 19th century tunnel was once used
to be an escape route for the king, but with the passage of times, it has
converted into vintage graveyard of cars and motorbikes. The Naples has rich
history of home to a mysterious warren of tunnels carved into 16th
century aqueducts. The mesmerizing tunnel is 100 feet below ground all are more
intriguing is that they were built by a king. In 1950’s the tunnel became a
place for discarded motorbikes rusting vintage cars and water tanks which were
then long forgotten. Moreover, it is accessed via an 18th century staircase not
far from the Piazza del Plebiscite in central Naples, in the early 2000s locals
re-discovered and transformed the passageways into a eccentric tourist
attraction. Therefore, it is believed that Bourbon tunnel was actually designed
for King Ferdinand II of Bourbon. He used the tunnel as escape route
interlinking the royal palace and the army barracks in 1853.
Thus, the enigmatic passageways were actually designed in
response to the spate of revolts the monarch faced during his volatile reign. Eager
to make use of the city’s prehistoric aqueducts, a plan was developed to build
the structure in the cisterns of the Bolla and Carmignano aqueducts. Unluckily
the King was died before the tunnel completed. Hence, after that the regal
route no longer required, the tunnels served for several purposes over the
years, with this ample space providing storage and protection to the few
citizens privy to its existence. Therefore, the passageways and aqueducts
offered refuge as a military hospital and bomb shelter during World War II and
then became converting into a warehouse for impounded vehicles from the 1940s
until the 1960s. Moreover visitors crawling through the tunnels nowadays will
be sure to encounter the dusty relics of vintage cars and retro motorcycles
that have been abandoned underground.
Thus, after reviving these unbelievable passageways, Galleria
Borbonica planned three different types of tours to sate the curiosity of
locals and tourists alike. So, on a standard tour, visitors can walk inside the
tunnel, can see the bomb shelters and water tanks. However the high-octane
adventure tour includes a raft ride in a subway tunnel, which has become
flooded with water. Lastly, the speleo tour permits guests to relish a hands-on
gritty familiarity crawling through the tunnels in helmets fitted with torches.
Nevertheless before anyone starts to fantasies that they have been transported
back to the days of King Ferdinand II, they will have the chance to ride a zip
line, which is sure to thrust them back into the present day.