Rione Terra
Rione Terra
4.5
About
The underground archaeological tour of Rione Terra is a journey in the ancient Roman colony, Puteoli , founded in 194 BC and soon became the commercial port of Rome. The course is located below the tuff rock overlooking the Gulf of Pozzuoli, between Nisida and Bay, and runs along the principal axes of the Roman city, hinges and decumani. The visitor, strolling along the streets of Puteoli, Will be fascinated by the architecture of many buildings, the granaries, the oven for processing and baking bread (pistrinum) with millstones almost intact, from cryptoporticos, the workshops and warehouses. The archaeological itinerary is enriched by multimedia installations that guide the audience to discover the activities that took place in ancient Puteoli. You can visit the site in the days Saturday , Sunday and public holidays with entrance every hour from 9am to 12pm and from 13:30 to 16:30 . To access it will be necessary to book by phone from Monday to Sunday.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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kgkjgkjg
Washington DC, DC193 contributions
Jul 2021
On their website you can reserve a guided tour that takes you underground to the ancient city. It was interesting, but not worth a trip all the way to Pozzuoli just for this. so try to time it so that the amphitheater (which you pass on the way to/from the train station) also is open
Written 14 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cycleplus1
MIlton Keynes768 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
This is one of Pozzuoli best kept secrets.
1) you are supposed to ring to book(monday-friday),but no one answers the phone!
2) even the locals including the policemen do not seem to be able to tell how to find it.
Suggestions have been added via pictures,to attempt to recognise the location.
From the direction of Pozzuoli port,take the steps just before the arch,which at weekends are full of artists and their paintings.At the top of the stairs ,go back over the arch on cobbled rd,(see pic)to be greeted by large red building in front of you and another red building on your right.The building on the right is the "Infopoint" for Rione Terra.,(see pic).
My suggestion would be to arrive there for 9.30, for a 10am opening,either on Saturday or Sunday.(it says it is open at 9 but this is not true)Guided tours are on a first come first served basis,with max 25 people on a tour(hence get there at 9.30)
The guided tour is in Italian and very interesting,showing the untouched roman streets which are located under the existing houses,which had not changed for hundreds of years.They also use some great visuals which bring it back to life.You are walking through roman streets.Towards the end of the tour you are left to discover by yourself the church/come temple as reconstructed and still in use today.A very good re interpretation of the times.The guide was very good and informative.There is no parking on site.
A very different archeological experience,and worth the 2 days investigation it took us to find it!
1) you are supposed to ring to book(monday-friday),but no one answers the phone!
2) even the locals including the policemen do not seem to be able to tell how to find it.
Suggestions have been added via pictures,to attempt to recognise the location.
From the direction of Pozzuoli port,take the steps just before the arch,which at weekends are full of artists and their paintings.At the top of the stairs ,go back over the arch on cobbled rd,(see pic)to be greeted by large red building in front of you and another red building on your right.The building on the right is the "Infopoint" for Rione Terra.,(see pic).
My suggestion would be to arrive there for 9.30, for a 10am opening,either on Saturday or Sunday.(it says it is open at 9 but this is not true)Guided tours are on a first come first served basis,with max 25 people on a tour(hence get there at 9.30)
The guided tour is in Italian and very interesting,showing the untouched roman streets which are located under the existing houses,which had not changed for hundreds of years.They also use some great visuals which bring it back to life.You are walking through roman streets.Towards the end of the tour you are left to discover by yourself the church/come temple as reconstructed and still in use today.A very good re interpretation of the times.The guide was very good and informative.There is no parking on site.
A very different archeological experience,and worth the 2 days investigation it took us to find it!
Written 5 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vessi80
North Lanarkshire, UK1,213 contributions
Apr 2018 • Solo
Came here from the Amphitheatre and had to ask several locals for directions. Right near the cathedral. The Tourist Information Office next door to the red and yellow building is where the super helpful Gemma booked my tour in English for 1.30 pm. Cost is a reasonable 5 euros. The site is only open on Saturdays and Sundays and that's why the weekend is the best time to explore the Campi Flegrei sites.
Our guide Domenico was a treasure. So enthusiastic and knowledgeable . This site is a must if you enjoyed Pompeii or Ercolano and as yet is still crowd free. Excavations are ongoing but there was so much to absorb as you walk through the Roman streets of time gone by . Clever VR effects bring it even more to life as you can imagine breadmaking in the bakery , the life of a slave or how other more fortunate citizens of this long buried ancient town worked and dressed. An exquisite interior. It was a 45 minute tour which I shall never forget.
Unfortunately there was no access to the Cathedral due to Easter preparations. Anyone who visits in future can visit the re-opened Baroque Cathedral (only since 2014 I think) and the restored Augustan temple within. We did see the wonderful columns at the side though. Will just have to make a return visit.
Our guide Domenico was a treasure. So enthusiastic and knowledgeable . This site is a must if you enjoyed Pompeii or Ercolano and as yet is still crowd free. Excavations are ongoing but there was so much to absorb as you walk through the Roman streets of time gone by . Clever VR effects bring it even more to life as you can imagine breadmaking in the bakery , the life of a slave or how other more fortunate citizens of this long buried ancient town worked and dressed. An exquisite interior. It was a 45 minute tour which I shall never forget.
Unfortunately there was no access to the Cathedral due to Easter preparations. Anyone who visits in future can visit the re-opened Baroque Cathedral (only since 2014 I think) and the restored Augustan temple within. We did see the wonderful columns at the side though. Will just have to make a return visit.
Written 10 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seasandzzz
Dawlish, UK80 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Recommended by our "Rough Guide to Naples". However the Tourist Information shop in Pozzuoli was closed with no opening times on window...but go up the hill to the big RED BUILDING just above where you can buy a ticket and have an English tour guide into this gem of a hidden part of city. Opening a door of a nearby building let us onto a Roman street!!!! Walking down and through you can see what would have been shops, shop windows, steps up and down, and even a bakery with standing corn/wheat grinding mill. Some of these streets you cannot to into as they are apparently still excavating it but its brilliant to see. Just think that when you look up from the port at Pozzuoli to see those dark grey derelict buildings, that inside and below them are these ancient Roman streets where people lived and walked ! Love it.
Written 26 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tree47
Glatton, UK130 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
This archeological site is great uncovered in the 70's after the earthquake, it has just been reopened for a short time to visitors. We were able to hire an English speaking guide. Throughout the underground they have set up movies that look like things are really happening with shadows of people etc. Makes it really come alive. Be sure to go to the Cathedral that combines the ancient temple the Baroque church and the modern glass that combines the 3 time periods.
Written 25 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonas R
Vejle, Denmark556 contributions
Nov 2017 • Business
Was here during a business trip and had day off so did sightseeing. This place is very special and gives you a high knowledge about how the Greek and Roman inhabitants lived may years ago. I was especially amazed by the ancient bakery and cooking area that was very well preserved and presented. One feels that the authorities could do much more to market this site and also make it more user friendly, but I guess that due to the great amount of archeological sites in this area they find it hard to preserve it all.
Written 12 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela.Ellis
Shrewsbury, UK155 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
This place is amazing! A mini underground Pompeii.
We tried to ring and email to book a tour but got no response. In the end our hotel booked it for us as they knew the owner.
Our tour cost 5 euro each and the guide was very knowledgeable. Fascinating place to visit,took about an hour. It was a little rushed and we would of liked more time to look around as the guide did not allow us to linger for long.
We tried to ring and email to book a tour but got no response. In the end our hotel booked it for us as they knew the owner.
Our tour cost 5 euro each and the guide was very knowledgeable. Fascinating place to visit,took about an hour. It was a little rushed and we would of liked more time to look around as the guide did not allow us to linger for long.
Written 31 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeni O
Shepton Mallet, UK12 contributions
Sept 2018
We were hesitant to join the only English tour of the day (1.30pm on a Saturday & Sunday, only days it is currently open), as we turned up about 10 minutes late for it, but were encouraged by the other staff to join and were welcomed to the group - the guide even gave us a quick summary of what he'd said so far that we'd missed! - and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The guide was so lovely and very enthusiastic and informative, and kept unnecessarily apologising for both his English (which was great) and the fact that excavations were still ongoing, meaning that some areas were not yet accessible to the public (which really didn't detract from the experience as it was already highly interesting).
Some considerable effort and investment is clearly going into this fascinating historical underworld of Pozzuoli, and I would love to re-visit in a year or two to see how it has come along.
Definitely worth a visit to get a feel for how life actually was for everyday people here - the visual and audio displays help bring it to life too.
Some considerable effort and investment is clearly going into this fascinating historical underworld of Pozzuoli, and I would love to re-visit in a year or two to see how it has come along.
Definitely worth a visit to get a feel for how life actually was for everyday people here - the visual and audio displays help bring it to life too.
Written 25 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josh L
York, UK77 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
After reading all the positive feedbacks on tripadviso I decided to give this a go. It's absolutely brilliant. As the previous reviewers suggested the signage isn't great at Pozzuoli but they do have one or two near the site. I arrived at around noon time at the red building and the staff has put me on a free English tour at 2:15pm. There were only 3 of us at the tour, but the tour guide was extremely enthusiastic and overall very informative. I personally think that it would be better to start off the tour with a brief introduction on how the site was found and just an overview on the site - but since this is not advertised at all I'm guessing all the people on the tour would have known some background already. You get to walk along the original Roman pavement, see how people lived back then and importantly with so little people you have the sight all to yourself. The presentation was excellent as well - great use of prejectors and films. I would defintely reccomend this tour.
Written 24 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
divoten
Portsmouth, UK18 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
This is a sympathetically restored Greco/Roman archaeological find on a number of levels under the Rione Terra district of Pozuoli which may never have been discovered were it not for the bradissismo that occurred in the 1970's. This site has the potential to compliment the scavi at Pompeii and Ercolano but is currently in it's embryonic stages with further excavations still taking place. It lacks marketing expertise and has only Italian speaking guides and no explanatory signs in other languages currently which is unfortunate as Pozuoli has recently begun to welcome cruise ships into the port. However this is still a big attraction not to be missed and the crowning glory is the Duomo which is now a functioning church once more and uses the best of the restored material alongside a modern glass fronted profile with a modern interior giving an overall stunning impression.
Written 11 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Visita con passeggino. È agevole? Grazie
Written 11 January 2023
Good afternoon, Rione Terra sounds great, could you please advise me who you booked your tour through? Thank you for your assistance.
Kind regards,
Michelle
Written 13 November 2019
Hello! I am hoping to visit the Pozzuoli area the last Sunday of September. As I go in for "slower tourism" these days, I am not sure how much I can fit in, maybe make a second trip later in the week. For the Sunday I am thinking of the Piscina Mirabilis, a glass-bottomed boat tour in Baia and Rione Terra - and actually how do you get to Rione Terra - bus from Pozzuoli? (I will be using public transportation). I also want to visit the other sights: Pozzuoli itself, museums, Cumae, the Solfatara, but think that all that might be too much to cram into one day. I'd be particularly interested in visiting the Duomo in Rione Terra, does it have strict visiting hours, and do you have to book ahead for a guided tour? Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Written 12 September 2018
emy64
Rome, Italy
Ciao, emy64. Cosa desideri sapere su questa attrazione? Buongiorno, è possibile fare una visita guidata? ci sono numeri che si possono contattare? grazie.
Written 9 March 2018
081 19936286 è il numero a cui chiamare per prenotazioni ed informazioni. La visita guidata è opportuna ed è molto ben fatta, il costo pieno è 5 euro.
Buona visita 😉
Written 10 March 2018
buonasera, vorrei sapere dove e quanto tempo prima bisogna prenotare la visita al rione terra. conviene il giorno prima o stesso poco tempo prima di effettuare la visita?
Written 9 March 2017
occorre prenotarsi qualche giorno prima telefonando dal lunedì alla domenica, dalle ore 9 alle ore 17, ai numeri 081 19936286 – 19936287, oppure recarsi il sabato e la domenica presso l'Infopoint al Rione Terra dalle 9 alle 17. Il giro dura 40 minuti, il Rione è visitabile esclusivamente il sabato, la domenica e nei giorni festivi. E non c'è alcun biglietto da pagare e la visita guidata è gratuita
Written 11 March 2017
Come fare per visitare rione terra a Pozzuoli eventuali contatti e orari ..grazie
Written 5 October 2016
Sono andato di domenica ore 10:00 nn conosco gli orari ma penso nel week end durante il giorno
Written 6 October 2016
Martin B
Sofia, Bulgaria
Is it possible to visit Rione Terra next week - Apr 6 or 7th? Is it needed - pre-booking (prenotazioni)? Thanks
Written 1 April 2016
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