Roman Ruins : Past and Present

According to archaeologist Jorge García Sánchez, the beauty and popularity of the Campania region were already recognized by the Romans as early as the beginning of the 1st century BC. During this period, Caius Sergius Oratus realized that rebuilding coastal villas and selling them at higher prices could become a profitable business. These seaside areas quickly became favored retreats for politicians, senators, and even emperors.

Ancient writers also recorded the appeal of Campania. In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder described the region’s reputation for healing thermal waters. Pliny the Younger, in his Letters, explained how wealthy Romans spent their leisure time in coastal villas, enjoying activities such as reading, reflecting, swimming, and horseback riding. Archaeologist Jorge García Sánchez also points out that Cicero mentioned boat excursions, lavish feasts, and philosophical discussions as common pastimes among the elite.

Today, archaeological discoveries have revealed countless ancient cities, countryside estates, seaside villas, and settlements that confirm these historical accounts. From luxurious residences overlooking the Mediterranean to impressive urban centers, visitors can still explore the landscapes that once attracted Rome’s wealthiest citizens. Here are some of the most remarkable Roman holiday destinations in ancient Campania.

11. Stabiae

Modern Castellammare di Stabia and its surrounding areas preserve the remains of ancient Stabiae. The city was once independent before being handed over to Nuceria as a reward for its loyalty.

Archaeologist Maria Paola Guidobaldi highlights the remarkable level of urban development in Stabiae, especially visible in its luxurious seaside villas. Unlike Pompeii and Herculaneum, the area was quickly repopulated after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Evidence of this comes from the poet Statius, who mentioned the region in his works in 92 BC.

Archaeologists have uncovered several villas that reveal the wealth of their owners. Villa Arianna, for example, covers around 2,500 square meters and contains multiple decorated sections. Built on a hillside, the villa featured six levels connected by ramps, along with underground spaces that reveal its complex design.

Villa San Marco is among the largest Roman residential villas ever discovered, covering more than 11,000 square meters. Its layout included courtyards, columned walkways, fountains, dining rooms with sea views, and many other luxurious areas. According to Guidobaldi, these villas demonstrate how Roman elites combined inland agricultural estates with seaside holiday residences.

10. Villa Regina

The countryside around Pompeii was filled with farms, rural settlements, and villas that played an important role in the local economy. Archaeologist Emlyn Dodd explains that the region was especially famous for wine production, a tradition also mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his writings about Campanian vineyards.

Classicist Mary Beard considers Villa Regina an excellent example for understanding Pompeii’s agricultural economy because the property was mainly dedicated to winemaking. Archaeologists have also discovered evidence of grain, olive oil, and fruit production.

The villa contained special areas for making and storing wine, along with spaces used for farming activities. One fascinating discovery was a group of sealed wine containers, known as dolia, found in the courtyard. Their condition suggests that the grape harvest had already finished and wine production was underway when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

The villa also included elegant rooms such as a dining hall and a lararium (a household shrine), both decorated with beautiful artwork. For travelers interested in Roman agriculture and daily life, Villa Regina offers a unique glimpse into the economic world of ancient Campania. Visitors can also explore a carefully designed museum displaying discoveries from other Pompeian villas.

9. Oplontis

Oplontis was an ancient Roman settlement located near Pompeii, in today’s Torre Annunziata. Its name appears on the Tabula Peutingeriana, a medieval copy of a Roman road map. Archaeologists have identified at least four villas in this area, with the two largest excavated complexes representing two different aspects of Roman countryside life: leisure and business.

Villa A represents otium, the Roman concept of relaxation and luxury. Art historian John Clarke describes it as one of the most extravagant villas along the Bay of Naples. Because an inscription was discovered on an amphora, researchers once suggested that it may have belonged to Poppea, the second wife of Emperor Nero, although this theory has not been fully proven.

More than 90 rooms have been uncovered so far, revealing magnificent paintings, decorations, and architectural details. Much of the villa still remains hidden beneath modern Torre Annunziata.

Villa B reflects the commercial side of the region, or negotium. The complex was likely connected to wine production and garum trading. Numerous amphorae discovered in the courtyard support this interpretation, while the decorated upper floors may have served as the owner’s residence.

One of the most remarkable discoveries at Villa B was a group of Vesuvius victims found inside one of the rooms. Their remains have provided valuable information about their health, social status, and diet.

8. Puteoli

Today’s Pozzuoli, located about 15 kilometers northwest of Naples, preserves the remains of ancient Puteoli. Founded by Greek settlers around 529 BC, the city later became a Roman colony in 194 BC.

During Roman rule, Puteoli flourished because of its harbor, which was once the most important port in the Mediterranean before the construction of Portus near Ostia. The city expanded with impressive structures including an amphitheater, marketplaces, temples, and port facilities, many of which can still be visited.

The city’s international character is clear from ancient records. According to the New Testament, Saint Paul stopped at Puteoli while traveling to Rome, and some historians believe the city may have been one of the earliest centers of Christianity.

7. Roman Villa at Positano

Hidden beneath the modern town of Positano lies one of Campania’s most fascinating archaeological discoveries. This seaside villa was destroyed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, along with many other Roman residences along the coast.

The ruins beneath the bell tower of Santa Maria Assunta were once mistakenly believed to belong to an 18th-century structure. Archaeologist Amedeo Maiuri later identified them as the remains of a Roman maritime villa.

Since 1999, heritage authorities in Salerno have investigated the church’s crypt, uncovering parts of the ancient villa, including a triclinium, or Roman banquet room.

Researcher Luciana Jacobelli has emphasized that the villa demonstrates how wealthy Romans decorated their homes with impressive paintings to display status and prosperity. Some scholars suggest the property may have belonged to Posides Claudi Caesaris, a freedman of Emperor Claudius.

Visitors can enter the archaeological area by descending into the church crypt, where they can explore a small museum, walk across glass pathways, and view the excavated remains.

6. Baiae

Located about 23 kilometers northwest of Naples, modern Baia preserves the remains of ancient Baiae, one of the most luxurious vacation destinations in Roman times.

The coastline once contained magnificent villas, temples, fountains, and harbor structures. Many ruins remain visible today, but the most extraordinary attraction is the underwater archaeological park.

Around the 5th century AD, Baiae was affected by bradyseism, a geological process that slowly raises or lowers areas of the Earth’s crust. Over time, this caused many villas, including Villa a Protiro and Villa dei Pisoni, as well as temples and port facilities, to sink beneath the sea.

After aerial photographs revealed the submerged remains in the 1940s, underwater exploration began in 1959. Archaeologists discovered buildings decorated with mosaics and sculptures, which visitors can now explore through snorkeling and diving.

Baiae offers a rare opportunity to experience Roman history beneath the water.

5. Cumae

Located around 12 kilometers west of Naples, Cumae provides a glimpse into the Greek origins of Campania and their continuation under Roman rule.

Founded by the Euboeans around 750 BC, Cumae was the first Greek colony on mainland Italy. After centuries of conflict involving the Etruscans and Samnites, the city became part of Roman territory in 338 BC.

Under Rome, Cumae grew through agriculture and trade. Archaeological excavations have revealed a Roman forum, temples, baths, and an amphitheater.

These Roman structures existed alongside older Greek monuments, including temples and the famous Cave of the Sibyl. During Augustus’ reign, a 180-meter tunnel was built to connect the acropolis with the harbor.

4. Capua

Ancient Capua, located in modern Santa Maria Capua Vetere, was one of the most important cities in Campania. Originally founded with Etruscan influences, it later became part of Rome’s expanding territory in 340 BC.

The city played a role in major historical events, including the Second Punic War and the famous revolt of Spartacus in 73 BC. After the Augustan period, Capua entered a new era of prosperity, with wealthy citizens building temples, mansions, and public monuments.

According to scholar Simone Foresta, the city’s importance is reflected in the construction of its enormous amphitheater, the second largest in Italy. The structure was decorated with 80 statues of gods.

Walking through modern Santa Maria Capua Vetere allows visitors to discover the remains of a city that Cicero once described as “the other Rome.”

3. Capri and Villa Jovis

The island of Capri was the favorite retreat of Emperor Tiberius, who spent more than ten years ruling from this beautiful location. Even today, the island’s peaceful atmosphere and spectacular scenery continue to attract visitors.

Ancient historians Tacitus and Suetonius wrote that Tiberius chose Capri because it offered privacy and security. They also recorded that the emperor owned twelve villas on the island. Among them, Villa Jovis was the most impressive.

Archaeologist Clemens Krause determined that Villa Jovis had eight levels, along with large and small lighthouses. Its design provided breathtaking views over the sea. Although only ruins remain today, the site perfectly demonstrates the Roman idea of luxury leisure, or otium.

2. Paestum

Located near the Gulf of Salerno, Paestum is a remarkable place where Greek and Roman cultures meet. Although it is now part of Campania, it belonged to the ancient region of Lucania during Roman times.

Greek settlers founded the city around 650–600 BC under the name Posidonia. Ancient sources disagree about whether the founders came from Sybaris or other Greek groups, and historians continue to debate its origins.

The city became famous for its temples dedicated to Hera and Athena, along with its marketplace, defensive walls, and theater. After periods of Greek and Lucanian control, Paestum became Roman territory in 273 BC.

The Romans added their own forum, amphitheater, houses, and roads while preserving much of the earlier Greek urban design. Today, Paestum is one of the best places to see how Greek and Roman civilizations blended together.

1. Pompeii

No list of Roman archaeological sites in Campania would be complete without Pompeii, the most famous city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius.

Discovered in 1748, Pompeii’s true identity was confirmed in 1863 after archaeologists found an inscription proving the site was not Stabiae, as previously believed.

Unlike Herculaneum, which was buried under volcanic material, Pompeii was covered mainly by ash and small volcanic stones called lapilli. This made excavation easier and allowed archaeologists to uncover one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world.

As Pompeii’s director Gabriel Zuchtriegel has explained, visiting the city offers a unique journey into ancient life. Travelers can walk along broad streets and narrow alleys, enter luxurious villas and simple homes, and discover shops, restaurants, temples, and public baths.

Recent discoveries continue to reveal new secrets, including the famous fresco of Leda and the Swan, the House of the Garden, and the House of Orion. Pompeii remains one of the greatest places to experience the everyday world of ancient Rome.