ENGLISH * BACOLI
DAMNATIO
MEMORIAE" IS A VICE MEN SEEM RELUCTANT TO RID THEMSELVES OF. IN THE REPUBLICAN
ERA, THIS BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE WAS FULL VILLAS. UNDER THE EMPIRE, HOWEVER,
WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAD BUILT WAS DESTROYED THOUGH ONLY FOR NEW VILLAS TO
BE BUILT IN THEIR STEAD.
BACOLI IS THE MUNICIPALITY WHICH INCLUDES CUMA, BAIA AND MISENO; ITS DELIGHTFUL
BEACH IS CROWDED IN THE SUMMER WITH WEEKEND HOLIDAYMAKERS FROM NAPLES. IT
WAS ALSO THE RESORT CHOSEN BY NERO FOR HIS HOLIDAYS. THIS ECCENTRIC EMPEROR
HAD AN EXTREMELY UP TO DATE HYDRAULIC INSTALLATION BUILT, THE LIKE OF WHICH
HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN. THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGES AND BARRELVAULTS, THE CORRIDORS
AND ARCADES MAKE THE "CENTO CAMERELLE" ("HUNDRED SMALL ROOMS") THE NAME LATER
GIVEN TO THE BUILDING, WHICH WAS ALSO SAID TO HAVE BEEN USED AS A PRISON A
MODEL OF HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING, AS, INHAEUMS IN THE PHLEGREAN AREA.
IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO THE "CENTO CAMERELLE", THERE ARE THE RUINS OF THE VILLA
OF HORTENSIUS, A FISH FARMER WHOM CICERO IRONICALLY REFERRED TO AS "AN ENCHANTER
OF FISH" . THE VILLA LATER BECAME THE PROPERTY OF THE FLAVII, AND IT IS SAID
THAT NERO'S MOTHER AGRIPPINA WAS MURDERED THERE ON THE ORDERS OF HER SON.
HER TOMB IS TO BE FOUND ON THE ROAD ALONG THE COAST. THE REAL WONDER OF THE
AREA, HOWEVER, IS INVISIBLE TO US. UNDERNEATH THE STRETCH OF GRASSY LAND BETWEEN
BACOLI AND BAIA, THERE IS THE "PISCINA MIRABILIS", THE LARGEST RESERVOIR IN
THE ANCIENT WORLD, STILL INTACT. IT RESEMBLES A CATHEDRAL WITH ITS HUGE PIERS
AND ARCHES, AND AIR OF SECLUSION AND AWE IT IS ASTONISHING TO THINK THAT IT
WAS ONLY USED FOR WATER STORAGE. IT IS 70 METRES LONG AND 25 METRES WIDE,
AND HAD A CAPACITY OF 12.000 CUBIC METRES.
IT WAS USED TO SUPPLY THE ROMAN FLEET. IT IS OUR GOOD FORTUNE THAT THE CHRISTIANS
ONLY TURNED PAGAN TEMPLES INTO CHURCHES: THEY LEFT THIS MAGNIFICIENT BUILDING,
WHICH IS STILL READY FOR USE.
ENGLISCH *
MISENO
IT
IS NAMED AFTER ONE OF AENEAS, COMPANIONS WHO, AS VIRGIL TELLS THE TALE, IS
BURIED HERE BELOW US THE SLOPING FORM OF THE PROMONTORY, POINTING TOWARDS
PROCIDA, STANDS OUT: CAPE MISENO, WHICH, WITH ITS GREAT LIGHTHOUSE, IS AN
IMPORTANT LANDMARK FOR MARINERS. THERE IS A SMALL HARBOUR WHICH OCCUPIES THE
CRATER OF AN EXTINCT VOLCANO AND WHICH GOES BY THE NAME OF THE "DEAD SEA",
AS THE WATER IT ENCLOSES, OWING TO THE PARTICULAR POSITION OF THE SITE, REMAINS
UNRUFFLED EVEN WHEN THE SCIROCCO WIND IS BLOWING. IN ANCIENT TIMES, THIS HARBOUR
MUST HAVE HAD A CERTAIN MILITARY IMPORTANCE, FOR HANNIBAL DESTROYED IT IN
214 B.C. IT WAS REBUILT BY AUGUSTUS, BUT DEFINITIVELY DESTROYED BY THE SARACENS
IN THE NINTH CENTURY.