Baiae

Baiae, an ancient city of Campania. It was principally famous for its warm sulphur springs, remarkable for their variety and curative properties, its mild climate, and its luxuriant vegetation (though in summer there was some malaria in the low ground).

It was already frequented, especially by the rich, at the end of the republican period; and in Strabo's day it was as large as Puteoli. Julius Caesar possessed a villa here, the remains of which are probably to be recognized in some large substructures on the ridge above the 16th-century castle. Baiae was a favourite residence of the emperors. Nero built a huge villa probably on the site now occupied by the castle. Hadrian died in Caesar's villa in A.D. 138, and Alexander Severus erected large buildings for his mother. Baiae never became, however, an independent town, but formed part of the territory of Cumae. The luxury and immorality of the life of Baiae under both the republic and the empire are frequently spoken of by ancient writers.

Baiae was devastated by the Saracens in the 8th century and entirely deserted on account of malaria in 1500.

Whos here now:   Members 0   Guests 1   Bots & Crawlers 0