Chiesa Di Sant’Antonio , Posillipo

The Thirteen Descents: History and Enchantment on the Ramps of Saint Anthony

NAPLES, Italy – A route that is a journey into the heart of Naples.

The Ramps of Saint Anthony, the famous “thirteen descents,” have connected Posillipo to Chiaia for centuries. The route, of Greco-Roman origin, was built in 1643

at the behest of the Spanish viceroy Ramiro Nunez de Guzman, as recorded in a Latin inscription.

The work was later expanded to facilitate pilgrims heading to the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, which has dominated the summit since 1642, giving the ramps their name.

Today, despite renovations, they retain their bold character: tight hairpin bends that test drivers.

The final destination is the panoramic square, built in 1970, considered the most romantic balcony in the city.

As evening falls, when the lights come on over the gulf, this terrace becomes the perfect stage for lovers, who seek the most unforgettable kiss here, suspended between the sea and a starry sky.