Pizzofalcone, Historical hilltop in San Ferdinando district, Naples, Italy.
Pizzofalcone is a hill in the San Ferdinando district of Naples, rising between the Santa Lucia, Chiatamone and Chiaia neighborhoods and offering views over the bay. The slope connects several levels of the city and carries on its summit military buildings, churches and residences from different centuries.
Greek settlers from Cumae founded Partenope here in the late 8th century BC, the first settlement before the rise of Naples. In the Middle Ages the rulers of Anjou chose the site for falcon hunting, which gave the hill its present name.
The name recalls the falcon hunting that took place here during the Angevin reign and shaped the character of the hill. Visitors today experience a mix of religious buildings, barracks and lookout terraces that reflect the military and spiritual heritage of the area.
The Monte Echia elevator and bus routes from Piazza Trieste e Trento make access to different sections of the hill easier. The paths on the slope connect the lower and upper city and offer several routes for visitors who wish to explore on foot.
Beneath the hill lie ancient cisterns and tunnels dating from the Greek and Roman periods that remain partly accessible today. These underground chambers served for water supply and as shelters during different periods of the city's history.
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