Archaeological Museum of the Phlegraean Fields: a Journey through Myth and History

The Archaeological Museum of the Phlegraean Fields, located within the evocative Aragonese Castle of Baia, is a major cultural institution that offers a fascinating journey through the history and mythology of a territory unique in the world. The Phlegraean Fields, with their intense volcanic activity, were the site of important Greek and Roman settlements, whose remarkable remains are now preserved within the museum.

History and Collections

The museum was established in the late 1980s to collect and showcase the archaeological finds discovered throughout the vast Phlegraean territory, which includes sites such as Baia, Cuma, Pozzuoli, and Miseno. Its collections are not mere displays but a narrative experience, illustrating the daily life, religious beliefs, and refined luxury of the ancient Roman elite.

The exhibition is divided into several sections, each dedicated to the main archaeological sites represented in the museum:

• Baia: this section focuses on the ancient Roman resort town renowned for its thermal baths and opulent villas. It features statues and marble decorations that once adorned aristocratic residences. Particularly noteworthy are the plaster casts of the ornaments from the Sacello degli Augustali of Miseno.
• Cuma: artifacts from Cuma, the oldest Greek colony in the Western world, narrate the city’s development, its cults, and its necropoleis.
• Pozzuoli: the section devoted to ancient Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli) illustrates the city’s role as Rome’s main commercial port, displaying objects that document the bustling economic and social life of the harbor.

The museum also offers a breathtaking panoramic view over the Gulf of Pozzuoli and the surrounding archaeological area, making the visit a unique experience that combines history, art, and landscape.

Visitor Information

• Address: Via Castello, 39 – 80070 Bacoli (NA)
• Contacts:
  • Tel: +39 081 5233797
• Opening Hours:
  • Open daily (except Tuesday, the weekly closing day) from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Last admission one hour before closing.
• Tickets:
  • Price: €4.00
  • The ticket is cumulative, granting access to other major archaeological sites of the Phlegraean Fields, including the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli, the Archaeological Park of Cuma, and the Baths of Baia.

Cover photo credits: Pino Barreca, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0