Salita del Petraio
Napoli (NA)
Hidden gemHiking
The story
Five hundred steps dropping from the Vomero down to Chiaia along an ancient watercourse, among bassi (ground-floor homes), washing lines, cats and little gardens. At every turn the bay reappears, and there is not a single tourist.
Access
FREE, public street, always walkable
The story
The Petraio is an ancient system of steps and ramps that connects the Vomero hill to the lower city, towards the Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Chiaia. The name comes not from a stone quarry but from the pebbles that the rains deposited along these ancient beds: the route follows the furrows of the water on the side of the hill.
What to see
A descent made of steps, little lanes and Liberty villas, with sudden views over the gulf: one of the most beautiful and hidden pedestrian routes of Naples, which descends from the Vomero to the sea away from the traffic, among gardens and houses clinging to the hill.
How to get there
- Funicular
Hours and prices
Free entry.
Tips
Like the other staircases of the hill, downhill it is a splendid scenic walk, uphill it is demanding: many do it going down from the Vomero and go back up by funicular (Petraio stop of the Centrale line). Comfortable shoes and a camera are useful.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Salita del Petraio?
An ancient system of steps and ramps that descends from the Vomero towards the Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Chiaia, among Liberty villas and views over the gulf.
Where does the name Petraio come from?
Not from a stone quarry, but from the pebbles that the rains deposited along these ancient beds on the side of the hill.
Is the Petraio tiring?
Downhill it is a fine scenic walk; uphill it is demanding. It is handy to go down from the Vomero and go back up by funicular (Petraio stop).
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