This coastal town near Naples has an active volcanic crater, Solfatara, and ancient Roman ruins, including a sunken city. Local restaurants serve fresh seafood by the bay.
Pozzuoli, a coastal town near Naples, sits on an active volcanic area where you can walk through a 40,000-seat Roman amphitheater, watch sulfuric fumes rise from crater vents, and buy fresh fish at the morning market. Ancient Roman streets in the Rione Terra quarter still carry modern traffic, while at the Macellum, rising seawater has left distinct marks on 2,000-year-old marble columns, creating a living record of the ground's movement over centuries.
Ancient Roman Architecture
The Flavian Amphitheatre rises three stories high in the town center, ranking as Italy's third-largest Roman arena. You can explore its underground passages where gladiators once waited to fight and see the mechanical rooms that controlled stage equipment. At the Macellum, an ancient marketplace mistakenly called the Temple of Serapis, marine mollusks have bored holes into marble columns at different heights, showing how the ground has moved up and down over time due to volcanic activity.
Exploring Rione Terra
In Rione Terra, you'll walk on original Roman streets dating to the 6th century BC. The district sits on a cliff where Greek settlers first built Dicaearchia. Inside the Temple-Cathedral, Roman columns frame Christian altars, showing how the building evolved over 2,000 years. After closing in 1970 due to earthquakes, the district reopened in 2014. Former inmates from local correctional facilities now guide visitors through the underground passages and ancient shops.
Volcanic Phenomena
At the Solfatara crater, mud pools bubble at 250°C (482°F) and steam vents release volcanic gases. This active site is part of the Campi Flegrei volcanic system. The area experiences bradyseism - ground movement that has caused parts of ancient Pozzuoli to sink below sea level while pushing other sections upward. You can see evidence of this movement throughout the town, particularly in the water marks on ancient buildings.
Getting Around
Naples Metro line 2 runs to Pozzuoli every 20 minutes, with the journey taking 42 minutes from Naples central station. The Cumana train from Naples' Montesanto station stops at multiple points in Pozzuoli. Local buses connect the train stations to the amphitheater, Solfatara, and Rione Terra.
Local Food Scene
Fishing boats arrive at the port each morning with the day's catch, supplying the market near the harbor and local restaurants. Along Via Napoli, restaurants serve seafood dishes with views across the Bay of Pozzuoli. Try the local specialty of spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams) made with clams harvested from the bay.
