In ancient times the village of Posillipo around Via Marechiaro took the name of Santa Maria, in honor of the church of Santa Maria del Faro. The name Marechiaro does not derive from the clarity of the water as many are led to believe, but from their quiet. Some documents dating back to the Swabian period speak of mare planum translated into the Neapolitan language mare chianu from which today's Marechiaro.
