Naples – The new Monte Sant'Angelo metro station in Naples, an extraordinary work by the famous British sculptor Anish Kapoor , was inaugurated today after a 22-year wait.
Described by the artist as a "mix of sculpture and architecture," this station is not just a transportation hub, but an immersive journey into the heart of the city, an experience that intertwines art, myth, and innovation, destined to become a point of reference for thousands of university students and citizens.
The project, launched in the early 2000s at the instigation of former Regional President Antonio Bassolino, faced bureaucratic delays, litigation, and financial difficulties before finally seeing the light of day.
Today, Kapoor thanked Bassolino for his "great courage" and vision, while Governor Vincenzo De Luca accompanied the artist on an official tour of the facility, which will be operational within a month.
The station, built by Webuild – already responsible for 14 Neapolitan metro stations, including the iconic “art stations” such as Toledo, Dante and Museo – connects the Federico II University campus to the Rione Traiano district, becoming a bridge between the academic world and the suburbs.
A mythological journey underground
The station's two exits are true artistic masterpieces. The first, inside the university campus, is dominated by a monumental 220-ton, 19-meter-tall sculpture, a "mouth" that encompasses the escalators, guiding passengers on a symbolic descent reminiscent of the myth of the Cumaean Sibyl recounted in the Aeneid.
The second exit, in the Traiano district, features another "mouth" 11 meters high and weighing over 42 tons. Both evoke the idea of a gateway to the underworld, in keeping with the subterranean history of Naples and Vesuvius , which Kapoor sought to reinterpret.
“I wanted to explore what it really means to go underground, creating a total and democratic work of art,” said the artist, emphasizing the bond with his hometown, Bombay, and the cultural connections with Naples.
The interior, clad in shotcrete to evoke a cavernous interior, amplifies the mythological imagery. Escalators and diagonal elevators accompany passengers on a journey that Kapoor describes as an "initiatory journey" into the depths of the city.
Architect Amanda Levete, a collaborator of Kapoor, had jokingly compared the monumental “mouth” to Courbet’s The Origin of the World , sparking curiosity and debate about the work’s aesthetic boldness.
A symbol for students and the city
For the thousands of students at Federico II University, the Monte Sant'Angelo station represents much more than just transportation infrastructure. It is a direct access point to the campus, a place that combines functionality and beauty, making the daily experience of studying and commuting an opportunity to encounter art.
The station not only facilitates mobility, but is also set to become a symbol of urban regeneration, connecting the academic heart of Naples with the Rione Traiano , an area often marked by social challenges.
This project embodies the vision of a Naples that looks to the future without forgetting its mythological and cultural roots.
Monte Sant'Angelo station joins the prestigious list of Naples' "art stations," consolidating the city's role as a capital of contemporary architecture and public art.
For students, commuters, and visitors, this new work by Kapoor is not just a transit hub, but an experience that celebrates the history, culture, and energy of a city in constant evolution. With the completion of this station and the ongoing work on the Capodichino station, Naples confirms its position as a laboratory of urban innovation, where art and functionality meet to inspire present and future generations.
