Napoli's Piazza Municipio Underpass Opens After 20 Years, Blending Archaeology and Urban Transit

The underpass at Molo Angioino of Piazza Municipio station in Naples opened on July 10, 2023, after over 20 years of construction. Designed by Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura, the tunnel connects Palazzo San Giacomo to the Maritime Station and features archaeological remains from Greek-Roman, medieval, and modern periods. Mayor Gaetano Manfredi and Regional President Vincenzo De Luca attended the inauguration. The underpass was briefly closed hours later due to bureaucratic issues with the National Agency for Railway Safety, but reopened the next day. It provides access to Metro Line 1 and, from July 2024, Line 6. Future plans include an Archaeological Park from Maschio Angioino to the port and a museum gallery displaying artifacts from excavations. Councillor Edoardo Cosenza described it as 'doubling Piazza Municipio' with an upper and lower square.