Cento Camerelle
Bacoli
Hidden gemHistory & archaeology
The story
A labyrinth of cisterns on two levels dug into the tufo (volcanic tuff), also called Carceri di Nerone, where Roman water ran beneath a villa facing the gulf.
Access
guided tours
The story
The Cento Camerelle, at Bacoli, are a monumental Roman cistern dug into the tuff, also called 'the Labyrinth'. They served to gather and distribute the water for the sumptuous villas of the Flegrean coast in the Roman age. The property is tied to illustrious names, from the consul Hortensius to Antonia Minor, mother of the emperor Claudius.
What to see
A maze of spaces on several levels dug into the rock: at the top a great reservoir of the imperial age with barrel vaults, below an older network of tunnels. An imposing hydraulic work, a testimony of Roman engineering, with glimpses of the Gulf of Pozzuoli.
Tips
The site has its own access and hours, often with a visit and booking: check on the official channels before going. You are at Bacoli, in the Campi Flegrei in active bradyseism: check the current access status. To be combined with the other Flegrean sites (Piscina Mirabilis, Baia).
Frequently asked questions
What are the Cento Camerelle?
A monumental Roman cistern on several levels dug into the tuff at Bacoli, which supplied water to the villas of the Flegrean coast; it is also called 'the Labyrinth'.
How do you visit the Cento Camerelle?
With their own access and hours, often by booking: it is best to check on the official channels, bearing in mind you are in an area of active bradyseism.
Where are they?
At Bacoli, in the Campi Flegrei, near the other archaeological sites (Piscina Mirabilis, Baia).
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