The Water Museum in Naples is a cultural attraction that promotes the history and importance of water in the city of Naples. The museum is located underground in the Basilica della Pietrasanta, where visitors can admire ancient Greco-Roman cisterns and the Submerged Decumanus, an underground path that traces part of the underground areas used as air raid shelters during World War II. The Water Museum was created in collaboration with ABC Naples, the water company of Naples, which has restored the original function to the Greco-Roman cisterns, now animated by water and streams that recreate their ancient appearance. The museum also offers art exhibitions and archaeological displays in collaboration with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Furthermore, the LAPIS Museum also collaborates with the Vesuvius Observatory, which loans and exhibits rocks and minerals that reconstruct the formation of the Campanian subsurface.
The LAPIS Museum is a cultural gem in the heart of Naples' historic center, just a stone's throw away from San Gregorio Armeno. This eclectic Complex is a journey through the ages, an exploration of Naples' roots, and its incredible stories.
The Water Museum: a unique experience
The beating heart of the LAPIS Museum is the Water Museum, the first of its kind in the historic center of Naples. This cutting-edge project was born in collaboration with ABC Naples, the Neapolitan water company. Here, the Greco-Roman cisterns, once used for water storage, have been brought back to life, creating a captivating representation of the past.
The pathway is animated by streams and water, flowing through the cisterns, restoring their original appearance. This is a unique opportunity to delve into the history of water supply in Naples and discover how water has played a fundamental role in the city's life over the centuries. The Water Museum transports visitors into the past and present through a blend of history and modernity, thanks to the use of immersive multimedia installations.
An underground journey through the Centuries
The Water Museum of the LAPIS Museum is situated along a fascinating underground pathway beneath the foundations of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore alla Pietrasanta. Accessible to all thanks to the first Archaeological Elevator in the historic center. This thrilling journey leads visitors to a depth of 40 meters below the city's surface, into a secret underground world. Here, amidst the bowels of Naples, you can explore the origins of the oldest Neapolitan building dedicated to the cult of the Virgin Mary, dating back to the Greco-Roman Neapolis.
The approximately one-mile itinerary traverses part of the underground spaces that also served as air raid shelters during the Second World War. These places bear witness to the courage and resilience of the Neapolitans of that era, who found shelter and refuge during the wartime bombings. Today, thanks to impactful permanent multimedia installations, you can relive the atmosphere of those crucial moments in history.
