Beneath three meters of crystalline water in the Gulf of Naples, underwater archaeologists have spotted a remarkably preserved Roman thermal complex, potentially belonging to the villa of the legendary orator Cicero. It has emerged from the submerged ruins of Baiae – once the most decadent and exclusive resort in the Roman Empire.
The exceptional find, located within Zone B of the Parco Archeologico Sommerso di Baia, represents one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries in recent years. First identified in 2023, the site has only now been fully documented, revealing an intact mosaic floor still supported by the original pilae of the suspensurae heating system – an ingenious Roman engineering marvel that allowed hot air to circulate beneath floors and through wall pipes.
What makes this discovery truly extraordinary is not just its remarkable preservation, but the tantalizing possibility that these thermal baths belonged to Marcus Tullius Cicero himself. Classical sources suggest that the famous Roman politician and philosopher owned a villa in this exact area of Baiae, making this potentially the first physical evidence of one of history’s most influential figures’ private retreat.