What happened to the fashionable resort of ancient Rome?

The ancient city of Baiae has drowned. And once it was a fashionable place where the Roman aristocrats gathered. Baiae was an ancient Roman city located on the northwestern shore of the Gulf of Naples.

In ancient times it was a fashionable resort. Here they built the villas of Caligula, Neuron, Gnaeus Pompey and Julius Caesar.

Seneca and Cicero described Baiae as a city of debauchery and idleness. Here Kaligula staged violent shows, and Nero killed his mother. Nero himself almost lost his life here too. Nero was invited to visit his villa by his friend Pison, who invented a cunning plan to kill the emperor in order to take his place. But the plan was revealed and Nero ordered Pison to self-destruct.

Mosaic discovered in the flooded Roman city of Baiae

The grotto with marble statues is the site of popular orgies

This place became attractive for recreation when healing sulfur springs were discovered here. There were the so-called Phlegraean fields here. Their volcanic activity led to the appearance of springs.

Sulfur springs are indeed useful, and people have known about their healing effect since ancient times. They normalize blood pressure, increase the regenerative capacity of the skin, improve blood supply to organs and tissues.

Many ancient statues are still found here and expensive villas are being dug up.

The city was submerged under water due to volcanic activity. It happened gradually. First, between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD, one part of the city went under water. And in the VIII century, almost the entire city was under water.

Now the flooded part of the city is an underwater park. Divers take amazing photos here.

In the photo you can estimate the approximate depth at which most of the city is located

And this is a virtual reconstruction of the city, as it was during the heyday of the Roman Empire

This place attracts archaeologists, as the objects are well preserved and give an idea of what life was like at that time.

For example, as it turned out, the Romans liked to make ponds with sea water in their villas. The Romans bred fish in them so that there was always fresh food on the table. Despite the vast coastline and access to fish, sea food was considered more aristocratic food than meat and cost more.