Monte Echia

{{Short description|Rocky promontory in Naples, Italy}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Monte Echia | other_name = | image = Monte Echia, Napoli, Italia - 2024.jpg | image_caption = Monte Echia seen from via Santa Lucia | range = Pizzofalcone | first_ascent = | country = Italy | region = Campania | coordinates = {{coord|40.8341|14.2468|display=inline,title}} }} '''Monte Echia''' is a rocky promontory, entirely made of yellow tuff, located in the {{ILL|Pizzofalcone|it}} area, in the San Ferdinando district of Naples.

This promontory projects into the Gulf of Naples between the Borgo Santa Lucia to the east, the Chiaia basin to the west, and overlooks the {{ILL|Megaride islet|it|Isolotto di Megaride}} to the south.

On it, the Cumaeans founded Parthenope at the end of the 8th century BC,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parco archeologico urbano di Napoli |trans-title=Urban Archaeological Park of Naples |url=https://www.naus-editoria.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PAUN-Guida-ad-uso-dei-curiosi.pdf |page=9 |language=it}}</ref> although the earliest archaeological evidence dates to the third quarter of the 8th century, that is, between 750 and 720 BC,<ref>{{Cite news |author=Associate Professor in Classical Archaeology (University of Naples "L’Orientale") Matteo D’Acunto |title=APPUNTI MAGNA GRECIA, Appunti di Archeologia |trans-title=NOTES ON MAGNA GRAECIA, Archaeology Notes |url=https://www.docsity.com/it/appunti-magna-grecia-1/7601371/ |access-date=19 July 2022 |work=docsity.com |language=it}}</ref> not far from the earliest phases of {{ILL|Pithecusa|it|Pithecusa}} and the settlement of Cumae.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Daniela Giampaola, Emanuele Greco |title=Napoli prima di Napoli. Mito e fondazioni della città di Partenope |publisher=Salerno edit. |year=2022 |location=Rome |page=51 |language=it |trans-title=Naples Before Naples. Myth and Foundations of the City of Parthenope}}</ref>

== Etymology == The promontory was anciently called ''Euple'' or ''Emple'' by Euplea of Statius. Subsequently, the name slowly transformed into ''Epla'', ''Hecle'', ''Ecla'', ''Echa'', and finally became the current ''Echia''. Some scholars instead believe it derives from ''Hercli'', perhaps from Heracles (''Euple'' being then part of ''Magna Grecia''), others from the name of a nymph ''Egle''.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Gino Doria |title=Le strade di Napoli – Saggio di toponomastica storica |publisher=Ricciardi |year=1982 |location=Cremona |page=355 |language=it |trans-title=The Streets of Naples – Essay on Historical Toponymy}}</ref>

== History == thumb|View of Monte Echia from the Santa Lucia borough in a late 19th-century print Parthenope was connected to the beach and the port by a single access route.

Incorporated into the ''castrum lucullanum'' (villa of Lucullus that extended to the Megaride islet) in Imperial times, it hosted the famous Lucullian gardens, filled with exotic plants and rare bird species. The ancient name of the mount, ''Platamon'' (surviving in the toponym of the street running at its base, via {{ILL|Chiatamone|it}}), means "''cliff hollowed by caves''". Indeed, numerous cavities open within Monte Echia, which Neapolitan antiquarian tradition believed were inhabited from prehistory to the classical era. They later became sites of Mithraic rites, of cenobites in the Middle Ages, and of orgies in the 16th century. The latter caused great scandal, prompting viceroy Pedro de Toledo to order their closure.<ref>"On that shore lie the delightful Platamonian Caves, crafted by human hands for the common enjoyment of those who, to cool the intense heat of summer, strolled there and took shelter with lavish and sumptuous banquets, receiving the pleasant breeze and the desired breath of the west wind unclothed, and naked among the clear waves, swimming to escape the tiresome heat." ''Benedetto di Falco'', 15th century. "There, as it is told, cheerful and carefree people gathered to feast and amuse themselves; until the amusements, later turned into scandalous orgies, made those places filthy brothels." ''Loise de Rosa'', ''Cronache e Ricordi'', 1452.</ref>

== Monuments and Places of Interest == thumb|The Monte Echia belvedere with the Gran Quartiere di Pizzofalcone on the left and the Palazzo Carafa di Santa Severina on the right. The archaeological site of Monte Echia is characterized by some remains of the Villa of Lucullus. Next to the villa lies a splendid belvedere that offers one of the most beautiful and characteristic views of Naples and its Gulf. The horizon spans 360° from the {{ILL|Capodimonte Hill|it|Capodimonte (Napoli)}} to the north, to Vesuvius to the east, to the Sorrentine Peninsula and Capri to the south, to Posillipo to the west. The belvedere has recently undergone restoration. As part of the works, the {{ILL|Monte Echia Elevator|it|Ascensore del Monte Echia}} was inaugurated in 2024, enabling quick access to the underlying Borgo Santa Lucia and {{ILL|Borgo Marinari|it}}. The old connection consisted of the {{ILL|Pizzofalcone ramps|it|Rampe di Pizzofalcone}}, along which one can see{{ILL|Villa Ebe|it}}, a work by the Neapolitan architect of Scottish origin, Lamont Young.

Behind the belvedere, in the eastern part of Monte Echia, stand the {{ILL|Palazzo Carafa di Santa Severina|it}} and the {{ILL|Chiesa dell’Immacolatella a Pizzofalcone|it}}, the first urban settlements in the area, dating to the early 16th century. The other building, on the southwestern side, is the {{ILL|Gran Quartiere di Pizzofalcone|it}}, now the ''Ninio Bixio'' police barracks, built during the Spanish era concurrently with the militarization of the Pizzofalcone hill. thumb|Plaque of the 1731 edict donating the ferruginous water spring to the people – via Chiatamone From this mount originated the source of a bicarbonate-alkaline-ferruginous water of volcanic origin, known to past Neapolitans as ''acqua zuffregna'' or ''acqua ferrata''.

From the name of the small amphorae (the ''mummarelle'') used to collect and sell it at city stalls, this water was also called ''acqua di mummare''.

The spring was closed in the early 1970s due to fears of contamination during the cholera epidemic, then returned to Neapolitans after 27 years and numerous checks through four dedicated fountains located in via Riccardo Filangieri di Candida Gonzaga, the ancient park road of the castle, near Royal Palace. In 2003, after only three years, these fountains were closed again<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chiuse le 4 fontane dell'acqua ferrata |trans-title=The 4 Ferruginous Water Fountains Closed |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/08/05/chiuse-le-fontane-dell-acqua-ferrata.html |access-date=23 July 2017 |work=Archivio – la Repubblica.it |language=it}}</ref> and today are in a state of complete degradation and abandonment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Un tempo sgorgava acqua «suffregna» Ora le 4 fontanine affogano tra i rifiuti – Corriere del Mezzogiorno |trans-title=Once It Flowed with “Suffregna” Water, Now the 4 Fountains Are Drowning in Waste – Corriere del Mezzogiorno |url=http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/arte_e_cultura/2010/28-gennaio-2010/tempo-sgorgava-acqua-suffregna-ora-4-fontanine-affogano-rifiuti-1602367327501.shtml |access-date=23 July 2017 |website=corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it |language=it}}</ref> Another fountain from the same source, donated in 1731 to the people of the Borgo Santa Lucia, in {{ILL|via Chiatamone|it}}, is still walled up.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book |author=Italo Ferraro |title=Napoli atlante della città storica |publisher=Oikos |year=2010 |volume=VII |location=Naples |language=it |trans-title=Naples Atlas of the Historic City}} {{Portal|Archaeology|Naples|History }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Echia}} Category:Mountains of Italy Category:Geography of Naples