In the first two decades of the 20th century, a dramatic increase in the number of people travelling downhill from Piazza Vanvitelli to Central Naples led to a need to provide a public transport option for the steep decline. A route between via Toledo and Piazza Fuga (adjacent to Piazza Vanvitelli) was settled on, with intermediate stops at Corso Vittorio Emanuele (near Cariati) and Petraio. Due to the difficult nature of the steep slope, it was decided early on that a funicular line would provide the best option for the route.

Construction took just over two years, and the Funicolare Centrale (Central Funicular) was opened to much fanfare on 28 October 1928. The Central Funicular is one of the longest funicular lines in the world, and with over 10 million passengers carried annually, has the largest capacity. There are four funicular lines in Naples. Augusteo Stazione (Augusteo Station) is the departure point for the Funicolare Centrale (F3).