Napoli

2023
archival print/dibond/white frame
47.2-66.9 inches, (edition 5 + 2 a.p.)

The old city of Naples was founded on Monte Echia (Pizzofalcone). It started with the settlement of the Ancient City or Parthenope in ancient Greece. After its creation, the old city was depopulated by the rise of the New Town or Neapolis next to Monte Echia.

During the Roman Empire, Monte Echia belonged to the villa of Lucius Lucullus. Remains of the villa were found here. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the highlands of Monte Echia became arable land. In the early Middle Ages, Byzantine monks lived there.

Under the rule of the Spanish Viceroys of Naples, a barracks was established at Pizzofalcone. The location of the hill offered great strategic advantages to the Spanish.

In the 19th century a tunnel was dug through the hill. However, this was never completed: the Galleria Borbonica. During the earthquake of 1862, part of the hill collapsed. The tuff dike around the hill was saturated by rain and therefore seriously weakened.