Carved into the landscape, the Arco Felice Vecchio stands as a testament to Roman engineering. This isn’t just an archway. The Arco Felice Vecchio was a feat of engineering and a symbol of Roman ambition. Built around 95 AD under Emperor Domitian, this arch was designed to carry the Via Domitiana over Monte Grillo. Imagine, the fastest route between Naples and Rome, a branch off the Appian Way, running right through here. The Romans weren’t just content with building a road. They carved through the hill of Monte Grillo, a hill already shaped by the earlier Greeks, to create a passage for their grand highway. The arch itself, standing 20 meters high and 6 meters long, was a marvel. Picture it: brickwork covered in gleaming marble slabs, a high, imposing archway, topped with two more orders of arches, flanked by piers boasting niches that once held proud statues. The Arco Felice Vecchio served a practical purpose, preventing landslides and connecting the two sides of the Monte Grillo ridge. But it evolved into something more. It became a defensive structure, the monumental gateway to the legendary city of Cuma for travelers approaching from Pozzuoli. As you stand before the Arco Felice Vecchio, try to imagine the chariots and legions that once passed beneath its arches, a tangible link to the power and grandeur of the Roman Empire.
Fontana delle Conchiglie
This unassuming fountain, the Fontana delle Conchiglie, holds a secret. It wasn’t always meant to stand alone. Built in 1938