The Bourbon Gallery was an underground viaduct that was supposed to connect the Royal Palace with Piazza Vittoria, with the intention of creating a rapid military route from the Vittoria barracks in Via Pace (today, Via Domenico Morelli) to the Royal Palace and an escape route to the sea for the rulers. In architect Errico Alvino’s plans, it was supposed to be divided into two tunnels for the opposite directions, but the second direction was never built. The excavation, which began in the mid 19th century, reached beneath Piazza Carolina, behind Piazza Plebiscito, but never reached the Royal Palace.
During World War II, the Bourbon Gallery and some nearby former cisterns were a refuge for thousands of Neapolitans. To make these places more liveable, an electrical system and toilets were installed. From the end of the war until 1970, the tunnel was used as the Municipal Court Deposit: all that was saved from the bombing debris, collapses, evictions and seizures was stored here.
It’s not hard to imagine the variety of objects that have been found in this extensive tunnel, including vintage cars and motorbikes and statues from different periods. It is possible to choose between three different routes: Standard, Adventure and Speleo.