In the suburbs of Naples, Italy, lies one of the largest preserved mansions of the ancient world and it’s absolutely huge.
The Villa of San Marco lies just south of Naples, Italy, and that pesky volcano, Vesuvius. Today the villa is in the town of Castellammare di Stabia, but in ancient times it was known as Stabiae. Stabiae was originally a small port, near the famous town of Pompeii. This small port quickly transformed into a resort town full of several miles of luxury villas, a Roman Hamptons if you will.
A schoolteacher discovered the ruins of the town in 1957 and excavations still continue today. The two most famous villas in town are the Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna. Since the latter was not open when I visited, here is an brief introduction to the Villa San Marco.
The Villa of San Marco’s entrance. It was absolutely pouring for most of the time I was there.
The Villa of San Marco, in true Italian fashion, was named after a nearby chapel that existed here in the 18th century. We have no idea what the Romans would have called the villa or who may have lived here.
The villa is one of the largest villas ever discovered in Campania (area around Naples). It totals out around 11,000 sq m. (For the non-metric readers that is 36,000 sq ft.) That’s huge for even today’s mega mansion standards. Also, to think about is that this is a one-story villa for the most part, so its feels even bigger. Unfortunately, only half has yet to uncovered and Archaeologists are still excavating the site. It may take them awhile.
Plan of the Villa of San Marco.
Looking at the map, I entered at spot 56 and promptly got lost after that. This villa is absolutely huge. This is some of what I found during my confusing exploration:
The main atrium of the house. The purpose of an atrium was to allow light and air movement into the center of the house. This room was where the man of the house would meet his guests. Water was also collected in the shallow pool, some villas even had fountains. Usually, the atrium would also contain a shrine to the household gods (the little room at the back). Although the one in this house is the largest I’ve ever seen in a villa. Normally, it’s just a small level surface in a corner of the room.
One of the most useful rooms in any home, the kitchen. This one has multiple stoves/ovens, a necessity for entertaining.
One of the small rooms off the atrium. Finding rooms with full wall frescoes intact is rare in Pompeii but not here. While many of the painted panels were removed after the villa was originally found in the 18th century, they have returned over time
This peristyle (32) is very different than what I’m used to. It is shaped like a short “L” with another room (25) intruding on the space.
This villa had many winding hallways. I am not even sure where I was when I took this photo.
The main peristyle would have had a pool (decorative, probably not for swimming) in the center and gardens within.
The main peristyle again. You can see that walls were richly decorated throughout this villa, even the outside ones.
Many of the doorways into the rooms had designs like this on the floor.
Little figures are painted throughout the villa, like this cherub.
Looking out over Castellammare di Stabia. In ancient times, the villa would have been a lot closer to the Bay of Naples. The villa’s dining room would have had this view. Not bad at all.
It may have been a long soggy walk from the train station, but this villa was worth it.
The Villa San Marco is an interesting find on the outskirts of Naples. It’s a bit of a walk from the train station but being able to walk through a villa that is so well preserved is so worth the journey.
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I’ve been to Naples twice and I’ve never heard of this place before! Super cool!