Piscina Mirabilis
Bacoli (NA)
Hidden gemHistory & archaeology
The story
At Bacoli, forty-eight pillars hold up the vault of a Roman cistern dug into the tufo (volcanic tuff): the largest ever built, an underground cathedral that once quenched the Misenum fleet.
Access
free with booking
The story
The Piscina Mirabilis, at Bacoli, is the largest cistern of drinking water built by the Romans — second only to the Basilica Cistern of Istanbul. Made in the Augustan age and dug into the tuff above the harbour of Misenum, it supplied water to the imperial fleet, the Classis Misenensis, stationed here, in the main Roman military harbour of the Tyrrhenian.
What to see
An immense underground 'cathedral of water': rows of tall pillars mark out a solemn space, once brimming with water and today silent, where the light rains down from above. It is one of the most evocative and least crowded places of the Campi Flegrei.
Tips
The visit is usually by booking, with a custodian: check the arrangements and hours on the official or municipal channels before going. You are at Bacoli, in the Flegrean area: line it up with the Castle of Baia and Misenum. A torch is useful for the details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Piscina Mirabilis?
The largest cistern of drinking water built by the Romans after the one in Istanbul: it supplied the imperial fleet stationed at Misenum.
Where is the Piscina Mirabilis?
At Bacoli, in the area of the Campi Flegrei, above the ancient harbour of Misenum.
How do you visit the Piscina Mirabilis?
Usually by booking with a custodian: it is best to check the arrangements and hours on the official channels before going.
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