Exploring the Naples Underground
It’s hard to describe Naples. Situated between a dormant volcano and the Mediterranean Sea, this city is a juxtaposition of danger and beauty. The city is fascinating, beautiful, and rich in a history that goes back to a time before Rome. To capture the city, I couldn’t just go to it. I had to go under it.
Beneath the city is a labyrinth of tunnels that were first mined by the Greeks in 680 B.C. when the city was known as Neopolis. Later, when the Romans took over the area, they utilized the tunnels to house their latest technology, the aqueduct. They then expanded them.
In addition to housing the city’s water source, there was a Roman Emperor who had a theater in the tunnels along with a secret escape route for the Bourbon Family.
However, most importantly, during WWII, Naples endured over 200 air raids. These caverns provided safety for the people. Today, you can still go on a tour of the underground and see the remnants of what was left behind by the people, including toys and wires they used to create light during those long, terrifying nights. And that is precisely what I did…
We made our way approximately 130 feet below the city. You can still see the remnants left behind by the people. From the bathrooms they had installed, the wires they used to create light, and the everyday items such as toys and cookware that they left behind.
And while there was plenty of water down there, they couldn’t drink any of it. Those wells that the Romans and Greeks built were infected with cholera. The city is no stranger to cholera outbreaks, the most recent in 1973. So, while the people were seeking safety from the constant bombings, they were also actively trying to avoid plagues.
Beyond the facts about the Neapolitan aqueducts, there was one massive lesson that I learned: the people of Naples are resilient. They have faced wars, plagues, and volcanic activity. They’ve not only survived, they thrived.
Author Diana Giovinazzo returns to the historical genre in a lush and thrilling novel, “Daughters of Naples,” perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Elena Ferrante.
Set in Naples, Italy, during WWII, three sisters must survive in the face of danger.
Naples, 1940. The three Cozzolino sisters, Leta, Marcella, and Bianca, live together in their small home during Mussolini’s domination. Leta runs the De Rosa dress shop, where she takes care of her mother-in-law while her husband is at war. Marcella is an apprentice to a midwife, bringing up the next generation of Italian soldiers, much to the pride of her boyfriend, who is inspired by Mussolini’s rule. But when their youngest sister, Bianca, decides to join the partigiani—the Italian resistance—after her childhood sweetheart is sent to war, familial tensions are brought to light.
The sisters are soon at odds, questioning where they stand in the war effort. When Leta’s old flame, Pasquale, asks if he can use the dress shop to send messages for the partigiani, she refuses. But when Naples is bombed, the sisters are forced to reevaluate their stances and how far they are willing to go for each other and their country. With the threat of Nazism looming over the city after Mussolini is ousted, the Cozzolino sisters will have to confront what they are willing to sacrifice and their loyalties to each other and to their country.
This inspiring novel examines the true nature of sisterly bonds and what one will do to survive.
“Daughters of Naples” will be released on July 21, 2026. It is available for preorder at Barnes & Nobles and wherever books are sold.
