November 28 – December 7, 2013 Visit to Baiae and Solfatara

S.O.M.A. Comenius project2013-2014 school year

1st school exchange

December 5th, 2013Visit to Baiae

Nullus in orbe sinus Baiis praelucet amoenis (Horace dixit)

No gulf in the world is as marvellous as Baia`sBaiae was a residential centre with villas and thermal buildings. The beauty of the panorama, the local springs of natural warm water coming from the volcanic subsoil had attracted the Roman nobility here since the 2nd century B.C. They loved to spend their spare time (otia) in these villas by the sea.

December 5th, 2013Visit to Baiae

With the coming of the Empire, Baia became the imperial family`s residence and in the next threee centuries. The imperial palace extended over all the mountain including the already existing villas and the thermal buildings. Its remains are identified by the big building known as Baia`s thermal baths.

Piccole termeSmall thermal

baths

December 5th, 2013

Visit to BaiaeThe site is composed of five sectors that have not the same orientiation: the Terrace complex, the Mercury termal baths, the lower thermal baths, the Sosandra thermal baths and the Venus thermal baths

Nynphaeum-theatre in the sector of Sosandra The arched corridor in the

sector of MercuryVenus thermal baths

December 5th, 2013

Visit to Baiae

External ambient of the temple of Mercury with the famous fig

tree

The dome of the temple of Mercury

The Solfatara of Pozzuoli is without a doubt the most interesting volcano of the Phlegreaen Fields, showing volcanic phenomena, such as the fumaroles, the mofete and small mud volcanoes.

The rumble of the ground: A shocking phenomenon is that caused by a rock, which, left to fall to the ground from a small height, in certain points of the crater, causes a dull rumble which gives the feeling of the presence of large underground cavities.

The old natural Saunas

They are micro cavities produced from the gas of the fumaroles in a ground of its nature pretty porous.

The more dazzling phenomena of the Solfatara is that of condensation of water vapor which is obtained placing a small flame close to the fumarole: the vapors appear gradually stronger.

th

Small mud volcanoes