Piazzetta Duca d'Aosta: A Neapolitan Gem

Piazzetta Duca d'Aosta, historically known as Piazzetta Augusteo, is a charming square nestled in the San Ferdinando district of Naples. Constructed in 1928, a year before the inauguration of the Teatro Augusteo, the square was designed as a spacious area to accommodate the traffic from the newly built Funicolare Centrale. This funicular connects the historical center with the Vomero district. The square was created by essentially carving into the pre-existing Palazzo Berio, resulting in three distinct structures: the remaining part of Palazzo Berio, the Teatro Augusteo, and the funicular station. In the 1930s, one of the twenty-one public street clocks of the Ente Autonomo Volturno was placed here. Located near Via Toledo, the square is also close to Galleria Umberto I and Piazza del Plebiscito. The Conte di Mola steps, situated in an alley between Palazzo Berio and the funicular, lead to the Quartieri Spagnoli. Beneath the square lie extensive underground tunnels used as air raid shelters during World War II. Today, Piazzetta Duca d'Aosta is a bustling hub, offering visitors an authentic taste of Neapolitan life.