Positano, a magical place that never ceases to amaze, is one of those places that can be defined as enchanting without falling into error.
Its beauty is not only breathtaking landscape where nature has given its best, with a crystalline sea that leaves you dreaming with your mouth open, and the green of the Monti Lattari that envelops you, making you enjoy the tranquility and relaxation typical of this place. It has an equally rich and captivating architectural heritage that captivates your eyes and heart.
Evidence of this is the discovery of Villa Romana, located under the church of Santa Maria Assunta. The Villa, whose existence was unknown until 2000, has been reopened to the public in 2018 after years of intense and hard work for its restoration.
Villa Romana, the history.
The construction of the Villa dates back to the 1st century BC, a date that does not bring with it any certainty, but there is one certain moment when the Villa was destroyed, it happened in the 79 AD whit the eruption of Vesuvius which also destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.
The greatness of the Amalfi Coast with its wonders as early as the 1st century BC it was appreciated by the Romans who began to build majestic villas here in which to spend their moments of relaxation.
With the eruption of 79 the Villa was buried by the ashes of Vesuvius at a depth of 11 meters, and remained so until 2003, the year in which excavations began, which ended in 2017.
Today, it is possible to visit the Villa, access is allowed to everyone, even people with disabilities.
How to visit Villa Romano in Positano?
In order to visit Villa Romano in Positano, you must enter it from the entrance to the MAR (Roman Archaeological Museum of Positano).
The first accessible part is the Upper Crypt where a space has been set up in which all the objects found during the excavations (jugs, vases and cups) are on display. Here you can visit the sixty-nine masonry seats that were used for drying the dead, the route is done with a guide who explains and gives explanations on a past to be discovered, both in Italian and English.
The whole route is done on transparent and illuminated walkways that allow you to admire the splendor of this underground treasure.
A few steps from the Upper Crypt is the Medieval Crypt, here the environment is austere and sober, so much so that it was originally used for liturgical purposes. From what we can understand, it seems that only at a later time the seats-drips were placed inside it, thus transforming it into a cemetery environment.
The beauties do not end there, continuing to walk these walkways you arrive at the triclinium, a room of about thirty-five square meters, used by the ancient Romans to serve lunch. The walls are five meters high, and it is on them that you can admire all the beauty of the frescoes kept intact to the point of thinking that time has stopped.
The colors that stand out from these frescoes are blue, yellow, red and green, images with three-dimensional stucco representing peacocks, sea snakes, cupids and birds. The frescoes that have remained intact in this way highlight all their artistic quality and the use of Egyptian blue, considered at the time a difficult color to mix, allows us to understand the wealth of the owners of the villa of the time and the splendor of Roman life. The paintings refer to the so-called IV style.
Amazement, mystery, charm, Villa Romana of Positano hides in itself stories and secrets to be discovered, capable of attracting curious tourists and admirers of art and culture.
