In the heart of Naples, the reopening of the Park of the Tombs of Virgil and Leopardi has brought back to life one of the city’s most poetic and symbolic places. But the real news is the next major milestone: the restoration of the Crypta Neapolitana, the monumental Roman tunnel carved into the rock, which will be made accessible again thanks to a €3 million grant from the Cohesion and Development Fund. This is the focus of the new phase of intervention by the Italian Ministry of Culture, supported by top-tier academic institutions in Naples.
At the center of this strategic cultural and social action is the Suor Orsola Benincasa University, a national leader in cultural accessibility and inclusion. Through its SAAD – University Services for Inclusion and Disability, Suor Orsola has already designed the tactile botanical route within the park. This action is part of the regional network “La Campania fra le Mani“, a flagship initiative that aims to make museum experiences fully accessible to visually impaired visitors through tactile supports, simplified texts, and immersive sensory pathways. The setup in the Park of the Tombs allows visitors to explore plants connected to the poetic imagination of Virgil and Leopardi using touch—one of the network’s most tangible achievements.
Alongside Suor Orsola, Parthenope University of Naples will also play a key role in the technical restoration of the Crypta Neapolitana, contributing its expertise in structural diagnostics, advanced surveying, and 3D modeling of historic architecture. This collaborative approach combines science, humanities, and digital technology to return one of Roman engineering’s masterpieces to the public in a safe and meaningful way.
“Restoring the Crypta Neapolitana means giving voice back to a place filled with history, myth, and memory,” said Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, “It’s a gesture that unites protection, innovation, and accessibility. Thanks to the work of universities and the ‘La Campania fra le Mani’ network, culture is becoming truly open to all.”
The overall project was conceived by Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums, together with Luana Toniolo, Regional Director of National Museums of Campania, and coordinated by Carla Bagnulo, site manager and RUP for the historic green restoration. The landscape design was curated by Silvia Lacatena, in collaboration with garden historian Maurizio Bartolini. The stone restoration was supervised by the Campania regional restoration office, specifically Mery Moz and Maria Teresa Girfoglio, supported by Annalisa Arcara, Rosaria Garofalo, and Maria Paola Campeglia. The works were carried out by the company Re.Am. srl.
Another essential element is the project’s integration of sensory and digital accessibility, developed with L’Orientale University of Naples, which led the creation of a Digital Twin of the park. Curated by Marco Giglio in collaboration with the National Centre for Leopardi Studies, this immersive tool enables virtual visits to all areas of the park, including those not physically accessible.
“The care for accessibility — through multilingual panels, tactile paths for the visually impaired, and digital tools — reflects a cultural vision that truly puts people and their needs at the center,” said Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi, emphasizing the value of an inclusive cultural experience that connects historical memory to the present.
The park is also a place of active social inclusion, thanks to the partnership with the Il Tulipano Art Friendly Social Cooperative, where individuals with autism spectrum disorders are involved in welcoming and guiding visitors. This inclusive model turns culture into a shared, participatory, and human-centered space.
#CryptaNeapolitana #NaplesCulture #VirgilLeopardi #SuorOrsola #LaCampaniaFraLeMani #MuseumAccessibility #Parthenope
Visitor Info:
Park of the Tombs of Virgil and Leopardi is open Wednesday through Monday, from 8:45 AM to 2:45 PM (last entry at 2:15 PM)
Free admission
Official website: https://museicampania.cultura.gov.it
Instagram: @mic_italia @museicampania @unisuororsola @uniparthenope
Facebook: @MiCItalia @museicampania @SuorOrsolaBenincasa @UniparthenopeNapoli
(Photos by the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Campania – Museitaliani – taken from cultura.gov.it and the Facebook page of the Park of the Tombs of Virgil and Leopardi)