How did Roman roads and aqueducts support Naples?

During the Roman era, Naples was supported by a sophisticated infrastructure that integrated the city into the broader Roman world and provided essential urban amenities.

• Roman Roads: Principal Roman roads connected Naples to the capital, Rome, and other key regions. These roads were part of an extensive transportation network that facilitated administration, trade, and the movement of people, helping to integrate Naples into the Roman Empire’s economic and social framework.123
• Aqueducts: The city was supplied with fresh water via Roman aqueducts. Such infrastructure was a hallmark of Roman urban centers, which typically featured standardized amenities like public baths, grand fountains, and theaters to support the population.14

Beyond these functional systems, Roman engineering also shaped the local landscape to improve connectivity. For example, galleries were pierced through the tufa rock of lower Posillipo to link the gulfs of Naples and Pozzuoli, with the Crypta Neapolitana serving as a notable surviving example of this work. These developments helped transform Naples into a prominent center of culture and a favored resort for wealthy Romans and emperors.15