 Introduction
For archaeological divers, Bacoli is a paradise, because the waters surrounding the region include ancient monuments and even a villa can be explored beneath the sea.
Arrival Plane
The Aeroporto Internazionale di Napoli in Naples is quite close to Bacoli. Just 26 kilometers to the east, it accommodates flights from several Italian cities such as Rome, Milan, Turin, and Venice, as well as flights from around Europe. EasyJet runs direct flights out of London, Paris, and Berlin; and major airlines like Lufthansa offer flights from Munich. Frequent shuttle bus service connects the airport to the train station, where you can catch a bus to Bacoli. Taxis from the airport are also an option.
Bus
From the main train station in Naples (Piazza Garibaldi), you can catch a bus run by the company called SEPSA. Get on a bus going in the direction of Torregaveta and disembark at the Miliscola stop in Bacoli.
Trains
Trains run frequently to and from Stazione Centrale, Naples' main train station. The city is a major stop on the Italian rail line, served by Intercity and high speed Eurostar trains. From the train station, you can catch a bus to Bacoli, as outlined above, or one of the regional trains operated by Cumana, from Montesano, to Torregaveta, which is one kilometer from Bacoli.
Car
From the center of Naples, just 24 km to the east, take the A56 Motorway to the Pozzuoli-Arco Felice exit. Follow Via Miliscola/SP2, to Via Castello, to Via Risorgimento, and you will be in Bacoli. From Rome, follow Highway A1 south. The 240 km journey takes roughly 2.5 hours.
Boat
Metro del Mare runs ferries from Bacoli to Sorrento, and Salerno (Molo Manfredi), with many stops in between.
History and Culture
Romans flocked to the seaside town in the first century to escape the heat of Rome. They constructed their luxurious villas in the hills, and bathed in the sulfur springs in Baia, then called Baiae. The Roman emperor Hadrian, in 138 AD, died in Baiae, and in 37 AD, Caligula rode his horse across a bridge made of ships that stretched for two miles across the bay to Pozzuoli.
Churches and Museums
Located within the Castle of Baia, this archaeological museum is split into three main sections. A section on plaster includes sections of Roman casts representing masterpieces of Hellenic art. Two more sections are found within the Torre Tenaglia. They feature marble cippi depicting the images of gods and emporers. Archaeological treasures from the Roman era round out the exhibits.
Historical Buildings and Monuments
This grand structure houses a plethora of important temples and beautiful remnants of ancient times. Several sections comprise the park including the Temple of Diana, the Temple of Diana, the Sector of Venus, the Sector of Mercury, and the Villa of Ambulatio. Guided tours are available upon request.
Castle of Baia
The Aragonese constructed the Castle of Baia in the late 1400s. The site was hugely important in terms of strategy with a location which dominated the Pozzuoli Gulf. The castle was expanded by the Spanish in the 1500s, and became impenetrable. The Royal Military Orphanage had its headquarters at the castle from 1927 to 1975. The Archaeology Museum of the Phlegraean Fields can now be found within its sturdy walls.
Agrippina's Sepulchre
Emperor Augustus was her great grandfather. Emperor Tiberius was her uncle. Caligula was her brother. Claudius was her husband. And Nero was her son. The ruins of what is supposedly the tomb of this beautiful, ruthless, and important Roman woman is located near Bacoli.
Places of Interest
These reservoirs once collected water for Quintus Hortensius' villa. Four levels make up the structure, including three levels consisting of a virtual labyrinth of passages, and an upper level which beginning in the first century was a cistern. Nero imprisoned his enemies in this complex system of cells.
The Piscina Mirabile
This extraordinary structure, enormous in area, resembles an underground basilica of Romanesque architecture, but was actually an early reservoir. Twelve thousand six hundred cubic meters of water could be stored within its vast expanse. Constructed during the reign of Augusta, it was linked to the Serino aqueduct and pumped water through hydraulic machines.
Masino
This nearby town includes a few places of interest including the Sacellum of the Augustals, an Imperial Age place of sacredness; and the grotto of the Dragonara, located on the beach.
Events
This celebration lasts several days and includes a variety of festivities including song, dance, and a treasure hunt.
Links |
Home 
Bacoli Travel Guide
