Parco sommerso di Baia, Marine protected area in Bacoli and Pozzuoli, Italy.
The park covers roughly 176 hectares of seabed off the coast of Bacoli and Pozzuoli, holding submerged remains from Roman times. The structures lie at depths between three and 15 meters and include roads, statues, harbor works, and remnants of palaces.
The area sank gradually through bradyseism, a volcanic ground movement that lowered the coastal strip over centuries. The change began as early as late antiquity and continued into modern times.
The name Baia recalls the ancient resort favored by Roman emperors and wealthy families as a retreat from the capital. Visitors now see beneath the water the remains of colonnaded halls and thermal baths that once formed part of a social life centered on relaxation and display.
Guided tours with glass-bottom boats offer a view of the ruins without entering the water, while snorkelers and divers get closer to the structures. Access depends on weather, so checking conditions before visiting is advisable.
Some of the underwater statues were made in the first century AD and depict gods and mythological figures that would have stood in temples or fountain installations on land. The cold of the sea has preserved traces of paint on some sculptures that would otherwise have disappeared long ago.
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