Archaeological sights in Campania
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A
Area Archeologica di Santa Restituta
Beneath Chiesa di Santa Restituta is the must-see Area Archeologica di Santa Restituta. Excavations undertaken between 1951 and 1974 have uncovered parts of an ancient Greek kiln, Roman temple and street, 4th-century burial amphorae and an early Christian basilica. Rows of cabinets display other ancient objects, from Roman bracelets and votive gifts to a 3300-year-old stove from Procida.
The ground-floor collection goes back to the future, with exquisite 17th-century pastori (nativity scene figurines), colourful 18th-century ceramics, high camp clerical garb and the 18th-century wooden statue of Santa Restituta still used in the annual procession in the Bay of San Montano…
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Acquedotto
Deep below Naples' royal quarter lies a series of Graeco-Roman tunnels that were once part of the city's aqueduct system. Used as air-raid shelters in WWII, the tufa-rock tunnels run below Via Chiaia.
Guided tours (in Italian) are organised by La Napoli Sotterranea, and depart from Caffè Gambrinus at the times listed above.
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Ruins of Pompeii
Nothing piques human curiosity like a mass catastrophe and few beat the ruins of Pompeii. A once-thriving Roman town frozen in its 2000-year-old death throes and conserved under a sea of volcanic pumice, Pompeii (Pompei in Italian) is a stark reminder of the malign forces that lie deep inside Vesuvius.
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Lupanare
From the market follow Via degli Augustali until Vicolo del Lupanare. Halfway down this narrow alley is the Lupanare, the city's only dedicated brothel. A tiny two-storey building with five rooms on each floor, it's lined with some of Pompeii's raunchiest frescoes.
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Bagni Regina Giovanna
Bagni Regina Giovanna is a rocky beach set among the ruins of the Roman Villa Pollio Felix, and the best place for swimming near town. It is possible to walk there (follow Via Capo west for about 2km) but it's quicker to get the SITA bus for Massalubrense.
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D
Granai del Foro
The Granai del Foro, now used to store hundreds of amphorae and a number of body casts. These casts were made in the late 19th century by pouring plaster into the hollows left by disintegrated bodies.
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E
Quadriportico dei Teatri
Behind the Teatro Grande's stage, the porticoed Quadriportico dei Teatri was initially used for the audience to stroll between acts and later as a barracks for gladiators.
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Casa dei Vettii
To the north in the ruins, on Vicolo di Mercurio, the Casa dei Vettii is home to a famous depiction of Priapus with his gigantic phallus balanced on a pair of scales.
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Tempio di Venere
Immediately on the right as you enter the ruin's main entrance is the 1st-century BC Tempio di Venere, formerly one of the town's most opulent temples.
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Tempio di Apollo
Opposite the basilica, the Tempio di Apollo is the oldest and most important of Pompeii's religious buildings, dating to the 2nd century BC.
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Foro
The grassy foro adjacent to the temple was the city's main piazza - a huge traffic-free rectangle flanked by limestone columns.
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Grande Palestra
The Grande Palestra is an athletics field with an impressive portico and, at its centre, the remains of a swimming pool.
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Foro Triangolare
At the end of Via dei Teatri, the green Foro Triangolare would originally have overlooked the sea.
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Tempio di Giove
North of the forum stands the Tempio di Giove, one of whose two flanking triumphal arches remains.
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Tempio di Iside
The pre-Roman Tempio di Iside was a popular place of cult worship.
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