An underwater discovery by a team of divers may turn out to be the ancient Greek port that grew to be Naples, and it may open the way for a new underwater tourism boom.
Found in the waters around Naples’ Castel dell’Ovo, the site includes four tunnels about ten metres below the surface, a street with furrows worn in by cart wheels, and what may be the remains of defense works. The find came through explorations funded by the International University of Languages and Media in Milan.
The Naples area was colonized by Greek sailors as long as 3,000 years ago. Later, a larger new settlement (Neopolis, or ‘new city’) was founded further inland, later to have its name morph into Naples. The older settlement became known as the ‘old city’ or Palaeopolis. Over time, they both became parts of modern Naples.
The city’s archaeological director, Luciano Garella, said that further exploration of the site will start in May. He envisions opening it eventually to visitors: “We’ll have to explore a different type of tourism—underwater tourism.”
