The ruins of the beach villa of Pliny the Elder were excavated near Naples – photo

In Italy, south of Naples, during the construction of a children’s playground and recreation area on top of a cliff, the ruins of a beach house, which was built about 2 thousand years ago, were unearthed.

According to CNN, the house was built in the 1st century in the coastal city of Bakoli. The islands of Ischia and Procida were visible from it.

Experts believe that this house could have been the luxurious residence of Pliny the Elder – the legendary writer, naturalist and commander of the Roman fleet stationed there.

Advertising:

Last week, construction work unearthed thick stone walls around the perimeter of 10 large rooms with floors, tiled walls and a maze of panoramic outdoor terraces.

Photo: Comune Di Bacoli

In the 1st century, this mansion was located on the territory of the Roman port of Misenum. From there, for four centuries, a fleet of 70 ships controlled the Tyrrhenian Sea, the security of which was key to holding the western flank of the Roman Empire.

“It is likely that the magnificent villa had a 360-degree view of the Bay of Naples. It could have been used for strategic military purposes.

We believe that excavation of deeper layers may reveal even more rooms and even frescoes. These are potentially valuable finds as well.” Simona Formola, a leading archaeologist at the Department of Artistic Heritage in Naples, said in an interview with CNN.

The authorities were surprised by the exquisite style of the walls, built from diamond-shaped blocks of limestone and placed in a grid pattern about 70 centimeters underground.

Archaeologists were surprised by the thoughtfulness of the structure of the walls made of limestone blocks

Next to the villa was a small stone pier, which is now located about four meters below sea level. Here Pliny met high-ranking guests who arrived by sea for sumptuous parties.

Advertising:

Excavations will continue for several more months. In the course of the works, the authorities hope not only to learn more about the shape of the beach villa itself, but also about the life and structure of Misenum, one of the most important colonies of the Roman Empire.

“This discovery is even more exceptional because we know so little about the port of Misenum,” – said Formola.

Although archaeologists were surprised by the find, local historians have long suspected the existence of an underground treasure there. The site will now become an open-air museum, which is slated to open in the coming weeks.

“The ruins of the Roman villa will be cleared and surrounded by wooden fences”, – said the mayor of Bacoli Yozi Gerardo Della Ragione.

Read also: A 2,800-year-old “pharmaceutical factory” with a water supply system was discovered in Turkey. PHOTO