Villa Sora, Roman archaeological complex in Torre del Greco, Italy.
Villa Sora is a Roman villa complex in the Contrada Sora of Torre del Greco, on the coast south of the town centre. It originally rose three storeys; the top floor collapsed after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and the lowest was buried by lava, so only the middle floor can be seen today. A black-and-white plan labelled "Spreggia Sud-Ovest" shows its interlocking rooms, corridors and stair flights.
Excavations of this Roman home began in the 1700s under Bourbon rule, revealing marble sculptures and artwork. Further discoveries and studies took place in the 1970s, adding to knowledge about the site.
The name Contrada Sora marks the coastal district south of Torre del Greco's centre where the villa stands. Nearby, on the beach, the remains of a bath complex known as the Terme Ginnasio can still be seen, and a small private harbour is thought to have belonged to the complex, though it is now lost.
Villa Sora lies in the Contrada Sora, south of Torre del Greco's centre on the coast. Only the middle floor of the three-storey complex survives, the upper level having collapsed in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and the lower one buried by lava. The nearby Terme Ginnasio baths can still be seen on the beach.
A middle floor of the home remains walkable, offering direct contact with Roman construction and living spaces. The upper levels collapsed during the volcanic eruption while lower floors stay buried beneath volcanic layers.
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