The Fascination of the Orthogonal Street Plan of Naples

Naples, one of the most fascinating and historically rich cities in Italy, preserves an urbanistic peculiarity that has its roots in antiquity: the orthogonal street pattern. This type of street layout, characterised by the perpendicular intersection of streets forming a regular grid, is a legacy of the Greek settlers who founded the city in the 8th century B.C., calling it Neapolis (New City).

The Greek Origins: innovative town planning
When the Greeks arrived in the Campania region, they brought with them not only their culture, but also their advanced conception of town planning. The orthogonal scheme they applied in the design of Neapolis represented a great step forward compared to the disorganised and chaotic settlements typical of many other ancient cities.
The heart of ancient Neapolis – which today coincides with the historic centre of Naples – developed around a grid of streets arranged at right angles, which facilitated viability and defence. This orthogonal grid, some of which can still be seen today, profoundly influenced the structure of the city, making Naples one of the few modern metropolises that still retains a trace of its Greek plan.

The Historic Centre of Naples: a mosaic of history and ancient structures
Today, walking through the historic centre of Naples, one can still perceive the influence of this ancient pattern. The main streets – such as Spaccanapoli, which cuts through the city from north to south – follow a directrix that traces the Greek design. Despite later Roman, medieval and modern expansion, the Greek orthogonal structure remains a distinctive feature of Naples. Over time, the city has been able to adapt its street layout to the needs of different epochs, without ever completely losing the grid that the ancient Greeks had designed. While the urban fabric has been densely enriched, it is also possible to trace the basic geometry that not only made Naples functional, but also gave it a unique beauty.

Naples Underground: a journey into the past
One of the most fascinating aspects of Naples is its underground dimension. Beneath the historic city centre lies a world of tunnels, ancient cisterns and galleries that tell the story of millennia. A visit to Naples Underground is an experience that allows you to come into direct contact with the ancient Greco-Roman city.
The underground structures in Naples date back to different historical periods, but one of the most significant testimonies to the Greek Neapolis is found in the bowels of the city. During the visit, one can observe ancient tuff quarries, used by the Greeks to construct the first buildings and walls of the city. The layout of the tunnels and underground passages still follows an orientation logic that refers to the orthogonal network of streets above. A system that served not only for viability, but also for defensive purposes and water management.

The Greek heritage in the Contemporary Urban Landscape
Today, the imprint of the ancient Greeks is also visible in the contrast between modern streets and traces of ancient walls and monuments. Although the city has grown and changed over the centuries, it retains a street grid that recalls the precision and order that the Greeks wanted to impose on the wild nature of the land.

In conclusion, the orthogonal layout of Naples is not just an urban feature, but a true cultural heritage that tells us of the greatness of the Greeks and of the city’s ability to maintain intact, despite its transformations, its ties with the past. A past that – even today – is revealed when walking through the streets of Naples; from the crowded streets of the historic centre to the mysterious underground corridors of Napoli Sotterranea. A journey through time, from Greek Neapolis to contemporary Naples.