Gods' Gates. The Belvedere Quarries of Sorrento as an intermodal landscape

The project assigns the Belvedere of Sorrento the role of an Intermodal Landscape by diverting the roadway into the quarries behind it and creating, on the remaining limestone spur, a path leading to the legendary Sentieri degli Dei of the Monti Lattari. A multi-level parking facility in the first quarry and a terraced park with a water feature in the second define the artificial landscape that forms the backdrop to the belvedere, which expands by occupying the entire route of the diverted panoramic road.

The thesis focuses on enhancing the Belvedere of Sorrento, located along the main access road to the Sorrento Coast, currently congested and unable to fully express its potential as the "gateway to the peninsula." The proposal is part of the "Porte degli Dei" project, which extends the Sentiero degli Dei brand to lesser-known paths, creating exchange nodes between roads and natural trails to connect people and the landscape, improving underexplored areas of great scenic interest. The quarries behind the Belvedere of Sorrento are reinterpreted as strategic hubs of the "Porte degli Dei" system, integrating different mobility systems and optimizing the relationship between transport and landscape. The natural morphology behind the quarries connects to the Monti Lattari, enhanced by a staircase integrated into the rocky spur and a lighthouse tower that serves as a privileged viewpoint with a panorama of Capri. The diversion of the coastal road into the quarries is a decisive action to ease traffic and expand the new Belvedere space. The eastern quarry becomes an intermodal hub with an electric bus station and a multi-level parking facility, enriched with hospitality services. The second quarry hosts an urban park with bars and restaurants that combine nature and comfort. The project follows the principles of organic architecture, integrating the structures into the landscape to create a harmonious dialogue between architecture and environment. Sustainable solutions are implemented, such as photovoltaic panels, charging stations for electric vehicles, and a mobility system based on electric buses, reducing traffic and carbon emissions and strengthening the identity of the Belvedere as a sustainable site integrated into the natural context.