Rione Terra

Rione Terra is an archaeological site in Pozzuoli containing the remains of an ancient Roman city buried beneath the modern town. The excavations reveal original streets, grain storage facilities, working mills, and underground passageways carved into the soft rock.

The site was founded in 194 BCE as a Roman colony and became a major port for Mediterranean trade. A major temple was later integrated into a medieval cathedral, showing how Romans and later people reused the same space.

The site demonstrates how Romans organized their cities with orderly streets and commercial spaces side by side. You can see where bakeries and shops operated, reflecting the everyday commerce of ancient times.

The site is open daily and guided tours in multiple languages help explain what you are seeing. Wear comfortable shoes as you will walk over uneven ground and through underground passages.

A ground movement crisis in 1970 forced residents to abandon the entire neighborhood, which eventually allowed the ancient city beneath to be uncovered. This unexpected event became the key to discovering a remarkably intact Roman city.