Exploring the Ruins in Baia

Today Jess and I had a bit of an adventure, figuring out the local bus system to get ourselves to Baia, a little town not far from Monte di Procida.  Jess, who has an impressive command of the Italian language, managed to have to bus driver tell us when we had arrived at the stop we wanted.

We first set about exploring the Museo Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei, which is housed in the magnificent Castello di Baia, a 16th century fortress built on Roman ruins.  When we first walked through the entrance, we were greeted by a sign indicating the museum was completely closed.  But a few moments later, a guy came out of the directors' area and indicated we should continue on into the museum.  We were literally the only people there the entire time, so we had it all to ourselves.

A misleading sign since the museum was actually open.

Jess at the drawbridge entrance to the castle/museum

Amanda at the sentry post with views of the Bay of Naples

View of the lighthouse and small beach below the museum

These eerie sculpted heads greet you at the museum

The museums 40+ rooms included a detailed explanation of ancient burial practices

A partially reconstructed frieze

A relief showing the naval fleet that was stationed at Misenum in the 1st century BC

We had this enormous museum all to ourselves

View of Monte di Procida from the castle battlements

Artfully positioned statues in one of the museum halls

Large scale exterior mosaic

Reconstruction of a nymphaeum that was discovered underwater in the bay. 

After fully exploring the museum, we walked down the hill to Baia's waterfront and had a refreshing drink at one of the cafes before walking across the street to the ruins of the Terme di Baia, a huge baths complex that is part of the park system. It is hard to miss since it seems to be right in the center of town and is flanked on both sides by the so-called "Temples" of Venus and Diana.  They are "so-called" because they were not actually temples, but structures used for the thermal baths.  Regardless, they are very large and impressive.

Detail of the circular Tempio de Venus

Half-domed Tempio di Diana

View of the ruins from above with the Baia marina and the Castle/Museum in the background.

Arches line one of the many paths

Partial column with the Castello di Baia/Museo Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei in the distance

Jess among the ruins

In the bay near Baia are ongoing excavations, but parts of the ancient town are underwater due to seismic activity over the centuries.  We had hoped to take a glass-bottom boat to see some of the sites but unfortunately they only do the tours on weekends at this time of year.