An ancient Roman villa has emerged from Lake Fusaro, near Naples, Italy, as shifting land continues to reshape the region. This rare discovery was made possible by geological forces that have lifted the ground, revealing long-submerged ruins.
The town of Bacoli is located in a volatile volcanic zone, part of the larger Phlegraean Fields, an area known for its unstable terrain. For centuries, underground activity has caused the land to rise and fall. In recent years, this movement has accelerated.
Since 2005, the ground has risen by nearly 138 centimeters, with a 20-centimeter increase recorded in 2024, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
This geological shift has pushed the shoreline back and raised the lakebed, causing water levels to drop. While local ports and marinas struggle with the changing landscape, the retreating waters have exposed the remains of what appears to be a grand Roman mansion.
Aerial discovery and archaeological study
Archaeologists identified the villa using aerial photographs before launching an official investigation. The Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape of Naples is now examining the site to determine its historical significance.
Bacoli Mayor, Josi Gerardo Della Ragione, acknowledged the importance of the find. “They were under the water! Walls and rooms from the Roman era have been discovered in Lake Fusaro. They probably belonged to a luxurious mansion,” he said. He added that the structure may have included thermal baths, a common feature in elite Roman homes.
The discovery adds to the area’s rich archaeological heritage. The region has been shaped by volcanic and seismic activity for thousands of years. Greek colonists settled here in the 8th century BCE and named it Flegraia Pedia (Greek: Φλεγραία Πεδία), meaning “Burning Fields” (Italian: Campi Flegrei / Campi Ardenti) because of its steaming craters and restless ground.
A history of sinking and rising lands
The ruins at Lake Fusaro are not the first Roman structures to resurface due to shifting land. The nearby ruins of Baiae, a once-thriving Roman resort town, tell a similar story – except in reverse.
Unlike the newly exposed villa, Baiae gradually sank as the land lowered over time. Today, much of the ancient city remains submerged in the Gulf of Naples, where divers can still see mosaics and statues beneath the sea.
Once described by poet Sextus Propertius as a “vortex of luxury” and a “harbor of vice,” Baiae was a playground for Rome’s elite. Emperors and aristocrats built lavish villas there, enjoying its thermal baths and scenic views.
The town’s eventual descent into the sea was another consequence of the same geological forces that are now lifting the land in Bacoli.
Echoes of Pompeii and Herculaneum
Not far from Bacoli, the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum stand as stark reminders of the power of nature. These cities were buried under volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, preserving them in time.
While Pompeii was entombed in an instant, the recent developments at Lake Fusaro show that volcanic activity does not only destroy—it can also reveal.
As the land continues to shift, more ancient structures could resurface, offering new glimpses into Italy’s deep and complex history.