Oplontis

A Roman Villa Buried by Vesuvius, then Forgotten

Somehow delicate frescos have survived © A. Harrison

The Gulf of Naples was once lined with the luxury villas of the rich and famous of Rome. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, they were destroyed by the force of the explosion then buried and forgotten under the falling ash (unlike Herculaneum, which was buried by a wall of flowing lava).

On top of the ash, the town of Torre Annunziata rose over the old Roman town of Oplontis, just south of Naples. As the town grew and deeper foundations were sunk, some of the ancient sites came to light. This included the Villa Poppaea and its grounds, which now stand surrounded by modern houses and flats. The fact it lies so much lower than them gives a hint to its age.

The villa surrounded by modern buildings; the collonade and statues in the garden © A. Harrison

The villa takes its name from the Poppaea family. The high quality of both the construction and decorations, and the wealth needed to achieve this, suggest that the villa was owned by the Emperor Nero, and used by his second wife, Poppaea Sabina, when taking a break away from Rome.