Many people throughout the world are fascinated by abandoned places, by ruins, by underground passages and caverns as there is just something inherently intriguing about these empty, ancient, and no longer used spaces. Seemingly untouched by the outside world, though no longer as they once were and once looked, they are both steeped in history and removed from the passing of time. Furthermore, these places manage to be both eerie and beautiful at the same time.
Such places are often made more appealing by the contrast with the bustling of the busy cities above or around them in which they are located. Take, for example, the hauntingly lovely and truly impressive Piscina Mirabilis, a giant ancient Roman cistern that is located on the north-west side of the Gulf of Naples, not far from the daily hustle and bustle of daily life in the electric city of Naples. For those who are interested in such things and those who simply enjoy getting off the regular beaten path for tourists and taking in truly remarkable sights, this is a must-see if you have found a vacation rental in Campania and are exploring the region.
Such places are often made more appealing by the contrast with the bustling of the busy cities above or around them in which they are located. Take, for example, the hauntingly lovely and truly impressive Piscina Mirabilis, a giant ancient Roman cistern that is located on the north-west side of the Gulf of Naples, not far from the daily hustle and bustle of daily life in the electric city of Naples. For those who are interested in such things and those who simply enjoy getting off the regular beaten path for tourists and taking in truly remarkable sights, this is a must-see if you have found a vacation rental in Campania and are exploring the region.
Though originally a very practical structure that acted as a drinking water cistern that fed the surrounding area, this astounding place is so completely grand and majestic in its appearance that it has been said to look like some ancient cathedral that has been abandoned for centuries. In fact, the name, Piscina Mirabilis, fittingly is actually the Latin for, "wondrous pool," and wondrous it certainly is. One of the world's largest ancient cisterns, it was dug out of the tuff hill on which it is located and measures 15m in height, 72m in length, and 25m in width, with a capacity of a whopping 12,600 cubic meters.
While it was long said that it was built under Augustus to supply water to the Roman imperial fleet at Portus Julius, this is actually highly unlikely as the cistern is located a whole kilometer away from where the slopes of the military base and the residential port area around it were situated. Furthermore, during the Augustan period, this base was directly connected to the main Roman aqueduct, the Aqua Augusta, and would not have been in need of the cistern. While the building technique of opus reticulatum used in the construction of the walls tells us that the cistern does, in fact, likely come from the Augustan period, it is more probable that it belonged to one of the luxurious villas that occupied the area at the time.
Supplied by water from the Aqua Augusta brought to various points in the area around Naples from a source in Serino near Avellino, some 100 kilometers away, the cistern pumped up drinking water to the terrace using hydraulic engines, which then left through doors in the central nave. Supported by vaulted ceilings and a total of 48 pillars, this, “subterranean cathedral,” still impresses architects and engineers with its sophistication and aesthetically pleasing design.
While located on lands that are privately owned today, the Piscina Mirabilis can be visited by the public by booking a trip over the phone (calling at least two hours ahead of your visit) and while there is no formal charge for the pleasure, it is customary to leave a tip or donation of around €3 per person. If you have found a vacation rental in Campania and are spending time in this part of Italy then we highly recommend a visit to this lesser-known but truly remarkable gem to admire the incredible structure and the ingenious engineering behind its creation.
Piscina Mirabilis
Via Piscina Mirabile, 27, 80070 Bacoli NA
+39 081 6336763
+39 392 2863436
cultura@sitireali.it
While it was long said that it was built under Augustus to supply water to the Roman imperial fleet at Portus Julius, this is actually highly unlikely as the cistern is located a whole kilometer away from where the slopes of the military base and the residential port area around it were situated. Furthermore, during the Augustan period, this base was directly connected to the main Roman aqueduct, the Aqua Augusta, and would not have been in need of the cistern. While the building technique of opus reticulatum used in the construction of the walls tells us that the cistern does, in fact, likely come from the Augustan period, it is more probable that it belonged to one of the luxurious villas that occupied the area at the time.
Supplied by water from the Aqua Augusta brought to various points in the area around Naples from a source in Serino near Avellino, some 100 kilometers away, the cistern pumped up drinking water to the terrace using hydraulic engines, which then left through doors in the central nave. Supported by vaulted ceilings and a total of 48 pillars, this, “subterranean cathedral,” still impresses architects and engineers with its sophistication and aesthetically pleasing design.
While located on lands that are privately owned today, the Piscina Mirabilis can be visited by the public by booking a trip over the phone (calling at least two hours ahead of your visit) and while there is no formal charge for the pleasure, it is customary to leave a tip or donation of around €3 per person. If you have found a vacation rental in Campania and are spending time in this part of Italy then we highly recommend a visit to this lesser-known but truly remarkable gem to admire the incredible structure and the ingenious engineering behind its creation.
Piscina Mirabilis
Via Piscina Mirabile, 27, 80070 Bacoli NA
+39 081 6336763
+39 392 2863436
cultura@sitireali.it
Photo credit: Ra Boe / CC BY-SA 3.0
