Poggioreale is a neighbourhood of Naples, southern Italy. It is at the extreme east end of the downtown Naples and includes the central train station, Centro Direzionale (Civic Center), Poggioreale prison, and the industrial area to the east.

History

The tuff blocks used in the 6th c. BC Greek age city wall of Neapolis were extracted from a vast quarry located in Poggioreale; it was identified by chance in 1987 following subsidence under the Pianto cemetery below the square of the church of Santa Maria del Pianto. The quarry has horizontal ridges corresponding to the height of the blocks and, surprisingly, the characteristic alphabetical marks of the ancient quarrymen. From the quarry the blocks were transported to the city along the straight line of via Nuova Poggioreale to via Casanova to enter Naples from the ancient gate where Castel Capuano is now located. Originally built on the ruins of Alfonso II's

Villa Poggio Reale A villa is a type of house that was originally an ancient Roman upper class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became sm ...

, the area was heavily bombed in World War II and certain part of the area still show the scars of bombing. Master Planning began in 1982 and construction completed in 1995 of the Naples Centro Direzionale (Civic Center) — to help rehabilitate the area from its generally decayed condition.

Geography

Poggioreale is situated in eastern suburb of the city. It forms, with

Zona Industriale Zona Industriale (in Italian language, Italian literary ''Industrial Zone'', referring to the industrial park), is a quarter of Naples, Italy. With Poggioreale (Naples), Poggioreale, San Lorenzo (Naples), San Lorenzo, and Vicaria it forms the Fourt ...

San Lorenzo San Lorenzo is the Italian and Spanish name for Lawrence of Rome, Saint Lawrence, the 3rd-century Christian martyr, and may refer to: Places Argentina * San Lorenzo, Santa Fe * San Lorenzo Department, Chaco * Monte San Lorenzo, a mountain on t ...

and

Vicaria Vicaria ( it, residence of the Viceroy), often known as Il Vasto, is one of the 30 '' quartieri'' of Naples, southern Italy, lying immediately to the east of the historical city centre (''Centro storico''). It borders the districts of Poggioreal ...

, the Fourth Municipality of Naples.

Main sights

* Centro Direzionale *

Cemetery of Poggioreale The Cemetery of Poggioreale is one of the major cemeteries in Naples, Italy. It is also known as Camposanto Nuovo, to distinguish it from Camposanto Vecchio, which is now known as Cemetery of the 366 Fossae. It is bordered by the Largo Santa Mari ...

* Church of Santa Maria del Pinato

External links

Quartieri of Naples Archaeological sites in Naples {{Campania-geo-stub