The archaeological and nature reserve of the Pausilypon

Connected to the Underwater Park of Gaiola there is an extremely interesting area from both an archaeological and an environmental point of view; this is the archaeological and nature reserve of the Pausilypon. Here still lie the remains of Publio Vedio Pollio’s villa whose the underwater remains are in the Underwater Park of Gaiola.
The gateway to this area is through the monumental Seiano’s cave. This 770 meters long tunnel was dug out in the Posillipo hillside to connect the luxurious complex with the route to the Phlegrean Fields, where other villas belonging to rich and influent Roman personalities were situated; in fact this region was Roman aristocracy’s favourite place and it is here they chose to build their estates. The villa was built by the rich Roman knight Publio Vedio Pollio in the 1st century B.C. and when Pollio died (15 B.C.) it was given in legacy to the future emperor Augustus, becoming an official imperial estate., and for this reason it has been enlarged and modified throughout the centuries.
Nowadays it is still possible to see the remains of a theatre, of an odeyon (a small theatre reserved for the court of the villa owner and other halls dedicated at the entertainment of Pollio’s guest and of the hosts.
This park is set on the Posillipo coastline, just above the Underwater park of Gaiola, so that it can be seen from different panoramic viewpoints.

To visit:
During the week with guide service: booking necessary; call 081 240 32 35
During the week without guide: entrance at 9.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Just call before arriving in the 081 230 10 30
Sundays: guided tours of the archaeological area with a guide starting at 9.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. – 12.00 a.m. The price is of € 5 per person. Reservation number 081 240 32 35
Starting from April it will be possible to visit first the archaeological area of the Pausilypon and then the Gaiola Underwater Park by a see-through surface boat following an integrated itinerary.