Lake Fusaro is located in the municipality of Bacoli (Naples province), within the Phlegraean Fields—a geologically unstable volcanic region known for its bradyseismic activity. Bradyseism refers to the gradual rise (positive bradyseism) or fall (negative bradyseism) of a section of the Earth’s surface due to the movement of magma or hydrothermal fluids underground. An unexpected outcome of this bradyseismic activity has been the emergence of the remains of a Roman villa from the waters of Lake Fusaro. This remarkable archaeological event was captured by aerial photography, as reported by Heritage Daily.
Bacoli’s mayor, Josi Gerardo Della Ragione, shared that ruins of walls, rooms, and possibly thermal baths have surfaced from the depths. These findings will now be examined by experts from the Naples Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape. The Phlegraean Fields is a vast caldera formed from a volcanic eruption approximately 12,000 years ago. According to research from the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the ground in this area has risen about 138 centimeters since 2005, with 20 centimeters of that occurring in 2024 alone. This has led to the uplift of the seabed and the retreat of the coastline, complicating access to some ports and docks along the shore.
Nearby, partially submerged remains of the Roman city of Baiae can be found, which was a popular resort in ancient times. According to Sextus Propertius, a poet from the era of Augustus (1st century BC – early 1st century AD), Baiae was described as a “whirlwind of luxury” and a “harbor of vice.” On the opposite side of the Bay of Naples lie the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum—two major ancient Roman cities that were destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.