Let's make a premise immediately: this time we propose an itinerary that we have successfully tested, but which in our opinion exceeds the degree of difficulty we are used to. Let's say that it would be advisable to travel it with a manual wheelchair and two companions, to overcome a couple of difficult stretches; however, the effort will be compensated by a wonderful view of the sea! We are talking about the Cave of Seiano and the Pausilypon Archaeological Park. The visit to these two sites is possible only at fixed times and accompanied by authorized personnel; the relevant information is contained on the website of the Municipality of Naples (http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/1415) or in those of private associations that offer guided visits (http://www.napolike.it/parco-archeologico-pausilypon-napoli). The Cave ofSeiano is a wonderful artificial tunnel that crosses the Posillipo tuff hill with a tunnel of about 770 meters, joining the area of Bagnoli and Campi Flegrei with the Gaiola valley. The path of the long ancient passage was built about two millennia ago by the architect Seiano, the famous minister of Tiberius, and reinforced in the Bourbon period. The pavement of the cave is in beaten earth, with some roughness but perfectly passable by wheelchair. The cave is artificially illuminated, but it also gets light and air from a series of side passages overlooking the sea, unfortunately not accessible by visitors for safety reasons.
After the cave you will immediately find the two difficult points: the first point are these five steps, long enough to be faced with the chair, but noticeably disconnected (and it would not take long to make them more usable for us!):
The second tricky point is this flight of low steps, long enough for our hand chairs and of essentially smooth flooring. The only problem is that there are many steps, and on the way back you have to do them uphill:
After these two difficult points, through a path flanked by typical Mediterranean vegetation, you reach the area of the villa that Vedio Pollione, a rich Roman knight linked to Octavian Augustus, wanted to call with a name of Greek derivation "Pausilypon", that is "place which stops the worries ", including those of the carers who push the wheelchairs! The area contains extraordinary archaeological remains of a theater with a splendid structure, with 13 rows of seats in the first cavea and 6 in the middle one and a total capacity of two thousand seats, built using the natural slope of the hill according to a technique typical of Greek theaters . The theater is used in the summer for theatrical and musical performances (www.suggestioniallimbrunire.org).
On the opposite side you can admire the remains of the Odeion, the ancient covered theater intended for auditions of rhetorical poetry or music, with a small auditorium positioned in front of the large theater.
But the most spectacular view is that enjoyed by looking out over the Bay of Trentaremi, which in the photo can be seen with the island of Nisida in the background.
And in this other photo you can see in the background, beyond Nisida, also Capo Miseno, Procida and Ischia: a unique view!
Another path, really difficult, leads to a belvedere that overlooks the islet of Gaiola, in the center of a fully protected marine park. Consider whether or not to follow this path (we do not recommend it), otherwise the guides will take some photos (www.areamarinaprotettagaiola.it).
Before leaving the archaeological park, to get an idea of its extension, let's take a look at the rest of the villa and its gardens:
As for lunch we have two possible suggestions, quite different from each other. The first is a very practical and cheap place, but equipped with bathrooms for the disabled: Food & Sciences Ristobar (*): c / o City of Science, Via Coroglio, Naples The other is a famous fish restaurant, with spectacular sea views; it is a place of a certain level and prices appropriate to the services offered. Accessible but not equipped bathrooms are available:
Rosiello: Via Santo Strato 10, Naples 081 769 12 88 www.ristoranterosiello.it (*) symbol indicating the presence of toilets equipped for the disabled
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