We are here again, talking about a very important news that concerns our city, Naples, and its most ancient roots. In fact, on 9 April 2024, after 18 years from the start of the works and various interruptions and restarts, the lift was finally inaugurated which from Via Santa Lucia leads to Monte Echia, a rocky outcrop in yellow tuff where the Greek settlers coming from island of Euboea, who had founded Pithecusa (on the island of Ischia) and Cuma, around 750-720 BC. they founded Partenope, the first nucleus of what would later become Naples.
Below is the text published on the website of the Municipality of Naples, which manages the system through the ANM (Neapolitan Mobility Company):
The Mount Echia lift constitutes an extraordinary tourist tool, connecting an area of the seafront characterized by hotels, restaurants and, in general, great attendance, with a practically unknown viewpoint which instead, especially due to the works carried out, offers an extraordinary panorama from Capodimonte to Vesuvius, from Sorrento to Capri, from Castel dell'Ovo to Posillipo.
The site has an exceptional historical value being the place of foundation of the City and the ruins of the Villa of Licinio Lucullus are clearly visible. The works, for a total amount of approximately 3 million euros, involved the arrangement and redevelopment of the Monte Echia viewpoint, accepting the requests of citizens who requested a lower visual impact of the artefacts achieved with the in-depth analysis of the elevator landing plan and of the steel staircase which are spectacular.
The pair of elevators can transport up to 34 people at the same time and is equipped with the most modern safety systems. The new viewpoint and the redevelopment of the viewpoint of the existing site are the first step of a more general redevelopment, which also sees the interest of the State Archives, military section (Palazzo Carafa, also the set of the "Bastardi di Pizzofalcone").
It is the Administration's will to also encourage the redevelopment of Villa Ebe by Lamont Young and, subsequently, the access ramps from Chiatamone as well as making the arrival route from Via Egiziaca panoramic.
It should be added that the facility is completely accessible to disabled people, even if equipped with motorized chairs, and that disabled people themselves do not pay the ticket. Let's start by taking a look at the panorama that can be enjoyed from this magnificent viewpoint, with the support of the beautiful photos taken by our dear Genny:
Here the Sorrento Peninsula, Capri and the Castel dell'Ovo are clearly visible; the castle was built in the Middle Ages on the islet of Megaride where the offshoots of Licinio Lucullus' Villa seem to have reached:
And these are the remains of the Villa of Lucullus which are found on Mount Echia:
Castel Sant'Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino:
Palazzo Carafa, seat of the State Archives (military section) and location of the "Bastardi di Pizzofalcone":
the hill of Posillipo:
And now it is time to mention Villa Ebe, the last work of the brilliant engineer of British origin Lamont Young, born in Naples in 1851 and who committed suicide in 1929 in Villa Ebe, which he dedicated to his young wife who lived there until his death in 1970. Young was the designer of numerous original buildings in Naples, as well as, in 1872, of a first Neapolitan subway project.
Villa Ebe was later acquired by the Municipality of Naples, but in 2000 a fire destroyed the interior furnishings and decorations, and since then it has not yet been possible to start with the desired restoration and redevelopment of the property.
In the meantime, the ramps where the entrance to the villa is located, which descend from Monte Echia to Via Chiatamone, have been dedicated to Lamont Young, as well as a beautiful plaque placed at the entrance to the villa, which we can admire from the outside:
In short, it is really worth taking a walk to enjoy the panorama of the Mount Echia viewpoint; for those using Metro Line 1, it is best to get off at the TOLEDO stop and then walk along Via Toledo to Piazza Plebiscito and take Via Santa Lucia until the confluence with Via Chiatamone, where the elevator entrance is located.
As for the restaurants, it is best to go to the seafront and look for the ones we reported in the relevant post from a few years ago, even if they have changed management and name since then.
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