A Dive into History
ITALY
BAIA NAPLES
An ancient treasure, submerged by volcanic rage, lies waiting to be discovered in the Bay of Naples in Italy
Text by ANTONIO BUSIELLO AND MICHELE STEFANILE Images by ANTONIO BUSIELLO AND PASQUALE VASSALLO
IN ANCIENT ROMAN TIMES, the super rich spent the hazy summer months in a beautiful coastal resort called Baiae. Villas of the elite crowded its shores, earning it the name“ Little Rome”. Situated on the northwest shore of the Gulf of Naples, Baiae was considered superior to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Capri for hedonistic pursuits. Wild beach parties and long drinking sessions were de rigueur.
Ancient sources attribute the region’ s appeal to its mild climate, breathtaking scenery, numerous natural thermal springs and proximity to Rome, less than 200 kilometres north. Now known as Baia, it was also a crucial commercial and military port for centuries. This lovely area is in the middle of an unstable volcanic region called Phlaegrean( Greek for“ burning”) and Pliny the younger witnessed the terrible eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD from Baia, right in front of his eyes. He described the eruption and destruction of Pompeii and Ercolano in his famous writings.
All this would be interesting enough to visit on land. But due to coastal instability, Baia is now an underwater archaeological site, a city submerged, and it offers one of the most fascinating diving experiences in the world. These ancient submerged structures were not discovered until explorers researched the area in the 18th century. More than 3,000 Roman villas and temples have been discovered along the coast and many recovered relics are displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Naples and Baia.