Pozzuoli Excursions

Pozzuoli Tours with Sorrento Silver Star

Greeks from Cuma founded dikaiarchia (Pozzuoli) in 530 B.C.. The Romans renamed it Puteoli and made of it a colony in 194 B.C. Extensive remains of the roman age can be seen throughout the city. Near the port is the ancient fish and meat market (macellum)commonly called temple of Serapis.

Its columns are perforated by sea molluscs, proving the construction to have been under the sea level for along time. This is due to bradyseism phenomenon.

North east of the port is the amphitheatre (3rd largest in Italy), started under Niro finished by Vespasian, with a capacity of 40.000 spectators is still well preserved even in the underground sections. Solfatara is a shallow volcanic crater at Pozzuoli, near Naples, and is part of the Campi Flegrei volcanic area. It is a dormant volcano, which still emits jets of steam with sulphurous fumes. The name comes from the Latin, Sulpha terra, "land of sulphur", or "sulfur earth".

It was formed around 4000 years ago and last erupted in 1198 with what was probably a phreatic eruption - an explosive steam-driven eruption caused when groundwater interacted with magma. The crater floor is a popular tourist attraction, as it has many fumaroles and mud pools. The area is well known for its bradyseism.

The vapours have been used for medical purposes since Roman times. This volcano is where the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus was first isolated. The archaeon is named for the volcano, as most species of the genus Sulfolobus are named for the area where they are first isolated.

In 305, this is the location where the patron of Pozzuoli, Saint Proculus, and patron of Naples, Saint Januarius were beheaded.