Ancient site · Italy · Partial ruin

Stabiae

Stabiae was an ancient Roman town on a 50 m headland overlooking the Gulf of Naples, famed for a dense group of luxury seaside villas. It was buried by the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius and is now an archaeological site where multiple villas, streets, a forum, a temple podium, a gymnasium and a small port have been excavated and studied.

Recreate Ancient site to Explore →

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

AD 50

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in AD 50

What Stabiae looked like in its prime.

A cluster of large seaside Roman villas on a rocky, terraced headland above the aquamarine bay: white stucco walls with painted frescoed panels, rows of marble or tiled floors and geometric mosaics, colonnaded peristyles opening onto planted courtyards and terraces, low red-terracotta roofs, stone stairways and arcaded shopfronts lining paved streets, small wooden boats and stone piers at the shore, and scattered statues and altar pedestals punctuating the promenades.

Step inside

10 places to explore in AD 50.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Stabiae — including 5 interiors: villa san marco — upper peristyle and colonnade, villa arianna — central courtyard (with agricultural wagons), villa del pastore — peristyle and sea-facing gardens and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Coastal approach along the Varano headlandPort and stone piersForum and temple on a podiumMacellum and tabernae with arcadesResidential street with houses and shopsVilla San Marco — upper peristyle and colonnadeVilla Arianna — central courtyard (with agricultural wagons)Villa del Pastore — peristyle and sea-facing gardensVilla of Anteros and Heracles — frescoed reception roomGymnasium — exercise hall and partial galleries

Create History