Description
Posillipo is a residential district on the hill that closes the Gulf of Naples to the west. Villas, sea cliffs and views over the gulf make it the place where Neapolitans go in search of a panorama.
The name comes from the Greek Pausilypon, «respite from danger» or «that stops pain». It was the villa of the wealthy Roman Vedius Pollio, and the name spread to the whole headland. Two thousand years later the reason is the same: the view.
At the tip of the cape is the Gaiola Underwater Park, a protected area since 2002 that runs from the little harbor of Marechiaro to the bay of Trentaremi, among the islets. It protects both the underwater Roman ruins and the marine environment.
Not far away, the Imperial Villa of Pausilypon offers one of the best panoramas over the gulf, with the remains of the imposing theater and of some reception rooms.
Then the village of Marechiaro, the Parco Virgiliano with its avenue and the Schilizzi Mausoleum. For a swim there are small bays like San Pietro ai due frati, with clear water, and the free beach of the Lido delle Monache, on via Posillipo.
After antiquity the hill remained a world apart, made of fishermen's and farmers' hamlets. In the 17th century the Spanish viceroys built their noble villas, as the Roman patricians had done.
The road by the sea was completed only in the 19th century: between 1812 and 1824 under Murat it reached Marechiaro, and the Austrians extended it to Coroglio. Posillipo was a hamlet until 1925.
The hill is the eastern rim of the Phlegraean Fields caldera and its yellow tuff plunges into the sea in steep cliffs. In the bay of Trentaremi there is a system of eight sea caves in the tuff. At Gaiola, bradyseism has partly submerged ancient Roman structures and there are underwater fumaroles.
Posillipo is also home to Villa Rosebery, the summer residence of the President of the Republic.
On Thursdays a small market is held, much frequented by residents, along viale Virgiliano.
The name comes from the Greek Pausilypon, «respite from danger» or «that stops pain». It was the villa of the wealthy Roman Vedius Pollio, and the name spread to the whole headland. Two thousand years later the reason is the same: the view.
At the tip of the cape is the Gaiola Underwater Park, a protected area since 2002 that runs from the little harbor of Marechiaro to the bay of Trentaremi, among the islets. It protects both the underwater Roman ruins and the marine environment.
Not far away, the Imperial Villa of Pausilypon offers one of the best panoramas over the gulf, with the remains of the imposing theater and of some reception rooms.
Then the village of Marechiaro, the Parco Virgiliano with its avenue and the Schilizzi Mausoleum. For a swim there are small bays like San Pietro ai due frati, with clear water, and the free beach of the Lido delle Monache, on via Posillipo.
After antiquity the hill remained a world apart, made of fishermen's and farmers' hamlets. In the 17th century the Spanish viceroys built their noble villas, as the Roman patricians had done.
The road by the sea was completed only in the 19th century: between 1812 and 1824 under Murat it reached Marechiaro, and the Austrians extended it to Coroglio. Posillipo was a hamlet until 1925.
The hill is the eastern rim of the Phlegraean Fields caldera and its yellow tuff plunges into the sea in steep cliffs. In the bay of Trentaremi there is a system of eight sea caves in the tuff. At Gaiola, bradyseism has partly submerged ancient Roman structures and there are underwater fumaroles.
Posillipo is also home to Villa Rosebery, the summer residence of the President of the Republic.
On Thursdays a small market is held, much frequented by residents, along viale Virgiliano.