Rione Terra

Rione Terra is the ancient rock promontory on which Pozzuoli was founded, the original core of the Roman colony of Puteoli. After centuries of continuous habitation, the neighbourhood was evacuated in 1970 due to volcanic unrest and remained empty while archaeologists worked beneath the streets. A guided tour is now the only way to visit — you descend into the excavated Roman levels, walking through streets, shops, and houses that have been preserved under the later buildings.

The Roman level is genuinely extraordinary: nearly complete streets with original paving stones, the stubs of walls, thresholds, and in some places intact rooms with painted plaster. The excavation is ongoing and the tour offers direct access to material that is simply not visible at most Roman sites. Above ground, the baroque cathedral built over the Temple of Augustus is also part of the tour; the medieval and modern building can be seen to rest directly on Roman foundations throughout.

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A story
In 1970 the entire population of Rione Terra was evacuated overnight after a sudden increase in volcanic activity. The neighbourhood sat empty for thirty years, its buildings deteriorating while the Roman city beneath was slowly excavated. Archaeologists found an intact Roman street grid, workshops, bakeries, and the remains of the temple that later became the cathedral — all perfectly sealed beneath centuries of later construction.