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Starting from: 0 per person
20minutes
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Unlimited
Art Gallery
Suitable for children
Suitable for couples
Pets allowed
Parking available
Barrier-free
Language supports
The Umberto I Gallery is the most important shopping arcade in the historic center of Naples, as well as an iconic place in the city.
Built in the late 1800s in honor of the king of Naples Umberto I, presents itself today as a crossroads of history and current events, art and leisure, where one can be fascinated by the particular art of the gallery or where one can simply spend one's free time among the shop windows and cafes that this majestic structure houses inside.
The cruciform building has four entrances arranged on the historic streets of downtown Naples: Toledo Street, St. Charles Street, Via Santa Brigida and Vico Rotto San Carlo.
A majestic monument, the Umberto I Gallery is a truly impressive piece of architecture. Consider that its construction was accomplished in the span of only three years. A very minimal amount of time to erect such an imposing building. The gallery, in fact, boasts an impressive 147 meters in length, 15 meters in width, about 35 meters in height to the 57 meters of the dome.
The main one among its four entrances is the one that opens onto San Carlo Street.
This is marked by an exedra facade, consisting on the lower part of a portico supported by travertine columns. Two blind arches open onto the entrance: one faces directly onto the street while the other, consequential to the first, opens onto the ambulatory. On the upper part, windows separated by pilasters, with Tuscan and composite capitals, adorn the top of the exterior structure. Stepping through the entrance, just before continuing inside, one finds oneself in the middle of two arches. The left one features columns with marble statues representing the four continents: Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Above the statues stand two niches containing Physics on the left and Chemistry on the right, symbols of science and progress.
On the columns of the right arch, however, statues represent the four seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer as symbols of the cyclical passage of time to which are related the human activities represented by the figures in the niches above namely the Genius of Science and Labor.
Upon entering the gallery, then, one is immediately struck by the vastness of the space and especially by the Dome. The streets inside the structure, which intersect orthogonally, are covered by an iron and glass structure that culminates at the center of the Dome, which is also glazed. Here, eight pendentives correspond to as many female figures supporting the artistic chandeliers while the Star of David stands mysteriously on the drum of the Dome.
The glass and iron vault, was designed by Paul Boubée to whom the plaque inside the gallery was dedicated.
Finally, looking down, you will be amazed even at the floor where mosaics depicting the winds and signs of the zodiac extend. These were built by the Padoan company of Venice, who in 1952, replaced the old original floor that was destroyed during the war events, with the present one.
Finally, in the part below the gallery, another cruise stretches out, with the Belle Époque theater at its center: the Salone Margherita, the main venue for the nighttime entertainment of Neapolitans of the time, which welcomed figures such as Matilde Serao, D'Annunzio, Eduardo Scarfoglio and other important national figures to its spaces.
Ancient and mysterious symbol consisting of a six-pointed star. Also called the Shield of David or Seal of Solomon, the Star of David represents Jewish civilization. Yet this symbol, consisting of two intersecting triangles, was used not only by Jews but also by Christians, Nazis, sects and the Freemasonry. The latter, particularly the Grand Lodge, used two inverted triangles as its symbol, which was therefore well reflected in the star of David. That is why this symbol appears in the Umberto I Gallery, which, in its basement rooms, long housed Neapolitan Freemasonry.
Today, within the Galleria, there are the entrances to four buildings, each structured on five floors. The first two floors are used almost solely for commercial activities in the Galleria such as stores, restaurants and cafes, while the upper floors, are used for offices, private residences and hotels.
The interior of the buildings has recently been restored to restore the many decorative sculptures, imposing busts, and characteristic Art Nouveau decorations found inside the gallery to their original appearance. The restoration work has not yet been completed.
On the second floor of the main facade facing San Carlo Street is the coral museum.
In the 16th century, the area where the gallery stands today was characterized by a tangle of parallel streets connected by short alleys, which, even at that time, represented the heart of the Neapolitan historic center. In these alleys were taverns and houses of ill repute that gave this urban center, a bad reputation. Tall buildings, stood in the overcrowded neighborhoods of the area and poured into a very bad hygienic situation. Consider that between 1835 and 1884, as many as nine cholera epidemics occurred in this area.
In 1885, under the government of King Umberto I, the law for the redevelopment of the city of Naples was finally passed. Several proposals were submitted, among which engineer Emmanuele Rocco's project won, later taken up and expanded. The districts of Mercato, Vicaria, Porto and Pendino, were reclaimed and in 1887, pre-existing buildings were demolished. Thus began the construction of the imposing tunnel, which was even finished within only three years. The same period when in Paris, the famous Eiffel Tower was being planned and built.
In 1890 construction was completed, and in 1892 the new Umberto I Tunnel was opened.
This became the new social center of the city of Naples still preserving its commercial and social as well as monumental function. It thus entertained citizens with the presence of stores and workshops. In addition, the gallery also fulfilled another important role: it gave public shelter to people during bad weather. All functions that, in not dissimilar ways, it still performs today.
Finally, the Umberto Gallery is also connected to the Shoo, the ancient figure of the city's shoe shiner. For many decades, these workers worked in the workshops inside the gallery, shining the shoes of nobles and the wealthy.
With Movery you always have a digital assistant at your side. Before booking we are at your disposal to clarify any doubts, after booking we will send you all the partner's information with which you can define the last little details. Don't worry until the experience is completed (and even during) our assistant will be there to resolve any unforeseen issues and clarify any doubts.
It is easily reached by your own means of transportation directly from Corso Garibaldi in the direction of Corso Novara. Continue further towards Porta Capuana and then directly to Via Umberto I. From here, taking Via Agostino Depretis, turn onto Piazza Municipio and continue again onto Via Emanuele III. This is about 200 meters from Via San Carlo, where the gallery is located.
From Naples it is possible to reach the Galleria Umberto I, with the metro line 1 connecting Piazza Garibaldi directly to Via Toledo. From here, with a walk of about ten minutes, you reach Via San Carlo where the main entrance to the gallery overlooks.
