Parco Pubblico Virgiliano , Napoli

Naples Sightseeing Secret: Parco Virgiliano and the Best Views in the City

Ask any honest Neapolitan where to find the single greatest view in the city and they’ll hesitate — not because there’s no answer, but because there are too many. Naples sightseeing is, above all else, about finding the right angle on an already spectacular city. And Parco Virgiliano, perched on the Posillipo promontory above the Gulf, might just be the finest viewpoint of them all.

Few tourists find it. That alone makes it worth the journey.

What is Parco Virgiliano?

Parco Virgiliano — officially Parco della Rimembranza — is a large public park sitting at the tip of the Posillipo headland, overlooking the entire Gulf of Naples. On a clear day (and in spring and autumn, the days are often crystal clear), you can see:

• Mount Vesuviusto the east, perfectly conical above the bay
• The islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procidato the southwest
• Pozzuoli and the Phlegraean Fieldsto the northwest
• The Naples coastline curving in both directions below you

It is one of the most beautiful views in Europe, and it is completely free.

Why It’s a Hidden Sightseeing Gem

The park isn’t on the standard tourist trail because it requires a deliberate effort to reach. It sits at the end of the Posillipo hill road, well away from the historic center and not served by the main metro lines. This is exactly why it rewards those who make the trip.

The park itself is large and green — a genuine breathing space in a city that doesn’t always offer one. Locals come here in the evenings for thepasseggiata, couples sit on the stone walls watching the sun drop toward Capri, and old men play cards in the shade of the trees while Vesuvius looms in the distance.

The Tomb of Virgil Nearby

The park takes its name from the Roman poet Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), who spent his final years in Naples and is traditionally said to be buried nearby. A small columbarium tomb on the Via Salita della Grotta, just below the park, has been venerated as his burial place since antiquity. It won’t take more than fifteen minutes to visit, but for lovers of classical literature it is genuinely moving.

How to Get to Parco Virgiliano

By bus:Take bus 140 from Via Santa Lucia (waterfront) or bus C27 from Fuorigrotta. Both stop near the park entrance on Via Tito Lucrezio Caro. Journey time approximately 25–35 minutes from the city center.

By taxi:Around €12–15 from the historic center. Worth it for the ride along the Posillipo coastal road alone.

By foot from Mergellina:Energetic walkers can climb the Salita della Grotta from Mergellina (metro Line 2) through the ancient Roman tunnel and up to Posillipo. Allow 30–40 minutes and wear good shoes.

When to Visit

Sunset is transformative here. Arrive 45 minutes before sunset, find a spot on the western-facing walls, and watch the sky turn orange and pink above Capri. Bring a jacket — the breeze off the gulf can be cool even in summer.

Parco Virgiliano is open daily, free of charge, from 7am to one hour after sunset.