Parco Vergiliano a Piedigrotta (tombe di Virgilio e Leopardi)
Mergellina
Hidden gemSacred art
The story
A park climbing at Piedigrotta holds the columbarium known as the tomb of Virgil and, just below, that of Leopardi: two poets in the greenery, above the traffic.
Access
FREE, closed Tuesdays
The story
The Parco Vergiliano at Piedigrotta, at Mergellina, is a small national park-monument tied to two great poets. It holds a Roman columbarium that tradition has for centuries indicated as the tomb of Virgil, and the tomb of Giacomo Leopardi, transferred here in 1939. In the park also opens the Crypta Neapolitana, an ancient Roman gallery.
What to see
The Roman tomb traditionally venerated as the tomb of Virgil, facing the greenery, and the tomb of Leopardi: a secluded place of literary memory, above the confusion of Mergellina. From here you can glimpse the Crypta Neapolitana, the Roman tunnel that connected Mergellina to Fuorigrotta.
Tips
The park is public and quiet, a literary stop a stone's throw from Mergellina: check the opening hours, which may change. The Crypta Neapolitana is visible but closed for safety reasons pending restoration. Do not confuse it with the panoramic Parco Virgiliano, which is at Posillipo.
Frequently asked questions
What is in the Parco Vergiliano at Piedigrotta?
The Roman columbarium traditionally indicated as the tomb of Virgil and the tomb of Giacomo Leopardi, transferred here in 1939, as well as the Roman Crypta Neapolitana.
Is the tomb of Virgil authentic?
It is a Roman columbarium that tradition has for centuries indicated as the poet's tomb; the identification is traditional, not proven.
Is it the same as the Parco Virgiliano of Posillipo?
No: the one at Piedigrotta holds the tombs of Virgil and Leopardi; the Parco Virgiliano of Posillipo is a panoramic belvedere.
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