Beneath Naples, Italy via Radio New Zealand!
By Larry Ray / The Rag Blog / August 4, 2009
The reach of the internet continues to amaze me. I have long had fascination with the “Parallel City” beneath Naples, Italy, since the early 1960’s when I lived there. Called the “sottosuolo,” it is a maze of giant cavities, tunnels, aqueducts, passageways, ancient Greek tombs, WWII air raid shelters and more.
Stationed in Naples many years ago, I became fascinated with the mysterious network below the city, which few locals knew much about at all. For many years I regularly returned to Naples to see friends and pursue exploration of the wonders below the city.
In recent years I have translated into English a wonderful website operated by my urban speleologist friends in Naples. The English Language version has resulted in a much wider knowledge of the marvels beneath the city including attracting the interest of regular visitors from around the world, National Geographic who did a great article with stunning photos, a travel article in The New York Times a couple of months ago, and a phone call a couple of weeks ago from Radio New Zealand wanting to do an interview with me for their popular “Nights” program.
That interview, broadcast August 3, down under in Kiwi-land, is available now in streaming form at the link below through the marvel of the internet. Imagine the improbability of Radio New Zealand interviewing an old guy in Gulfport, Mississippi, about a secret world beneath Naples, Italy!
I believe you will enjoy the interview. Chris Whitta, the program host, is personable and asked great questions. So take a few minutes and come enjoy the mysterious “Sottosuolo” of Naples. The podcast streaming link will remain available till August 10th, 2009.
Go here to listen to the interview.
You may also visit here to download the MP3 version of the interview.
[Retired journalist Larry Ray is a Texas native and former Austin television news anchor. He also posts at The iHandbill.]
Did you know about the “underground”
beneath Austin in the sixties? A lot of light, fun stuff at the time.
mps
Has anyone heard the story about the Neapolitan lyric artist, Oscar Mancino, and the filming of his Rigoletto in the “sottosuolo”?
Hope it is coming out soon!
They used to say See Naples and Die!
We now say Naples Will Never Die!