In a number of cities around the world, underground stations have become places for artistic experimentation, from Moscow to Taiwan, via London and Stockholm. In Italy, Naples takes the lead in presenting the most captivating and well-developed project related to this theme.
The project known as Le Stazioni dell'Arte (The Art Stations) has successfully converted many subway stops within the city of Naples into authentic underground museums. Mayor Antonio Bassolino and the then president of the Naples Metro, Ennio Cascetta, were the ones who initiated the idea back in the 1990s. The aim was to enhance the effectiveness of public transportation while also enhancing urban spaces and connecting residents with art.
Internationally and locally renowned architects, designers, and artists took part in this major project, working on the interior and exterior spaces of the stations, which welcomed more than two hundred public artworks under the artistic direction of Achille Bonito Oliva. The project's stations are located along Line 1 and Line 6, the latter of which reopened to the public July 17, 2024, with four new stops of considerable artistic importance.
The tunnels of underground Naples, which from the date of the city's founding until the mid-20th century were a place of historical stratification, are joined by the twenty stations of art, which are worth including in your itinerary to discover this incredible city.