Underwater archaeologists working in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Naples, off Italy’s western coast, recently discovered the ruins of spectacular Roman villas. Built 2,000 years ago, or possibly even a little earlier, these underwater remains are part of the legendary remains of Baiae, known in modern times as the Las Vegas of the ancient world.
During a seafloor scan of the lower section of Baiae, an ancient Roman resort village that was once frequented by Rome’s elite, archaeologists discovered a previously unknown set of structures covering over 260 feet (80 meters) of space.
Some of the buildings spotted underwater had collapsed, revealing interior contents that were consistent with their identification as Roman villas, which were country houses that belonged to Rome’s rich and famous. The discovery of the new stretch of Roman ruins was announced in a press release issued by Campi Flegrei Archaeological Park, which manages all tourist activity at the ancient Baiae site.
Read more: Ancient Origins
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