The Phlegraean Fields: let's find out the four elements of nature in these magical places!

The Greeks called the western area of Naples “Phlegraean Fields”: the area goes from Posillipo to Cuma and includes Pozzuoli, Bacoli, Monte di Procida and Quarto, and also the islands of Nisida, Procida, Vivara and Ischia.
This area is characterized by fumaroles, thermal waters, extinct volcanoes and lakes.
The Phlegraean Fields (from the Greek “flegraios”, meaning “fiery”) are the place where the four elements of nature – fire, water, earth and air – coexist in perfect harmony. The presence of those four elements is also found in the myth and in the legends about these places, as evidenced also by the great poems of Omero And Virgil.
If you want to have a tour in these fascinating and suggestive places, you can rely on “La Terra dei Miti”  company that gives you the opportunity to find out the beauty of Phlegraean Fields and to live a memorable experience.

So, let's find out some of these magical places together!

The Lago d'Averno (Avernus Lake) is located in a basin between Lucrino and Cuma. It is located in the crater of an extinct volcano, dating back 4.000 years. The lake is surrounded by thick vegetation: there are vineyards, maritime pines, willows, brooms and woods.
The air element already appears in the tradition. In fact, it is said that carbonic acid fumes and gases of the water would have excluded any form of bird life: the term “Averno” comes from the Greek “aornos” (meaning “without birds”). Instead, many bird species currently inhabite this area.
There are also water and fire in the myth: according to the ancient Greeks and Romans, across the lake you accessed to the so-called Underworld. In the poem “Eneide” the famous poet Virgil describes this place as “ingresso agli inferi” and Enea (the main character of the poem) will cross this area.
In Roman times, upon Emperor Augusto's request, the politician and architect Agrippa built a port complex near the lake: it's called “Portus Julius”.
Across the lake there are also the ruins of the “Tempio di Apollo”: a majestic termal spa of Roman origin.

Baia (in ancient times, “Baiae”), is where there were very therapeutic thermal waters. Baia was the retreat holiday of the Roman aristocracy: there were thermal baths, leisure facilities, libraries, gyms and gardens, according to the latin principle “mens sana in corpore sano” (“a healthy mind in a healthy body”).
In this place, the natural elements water and earth combine: the “bradisismo” (in the 3^rd and 5^th century AD) caused a lowering of the soil and consequently many buildings collapsed below sea level and formed an underwater park of great historical and natural value.
The Baia Archaeological Park extends for 40.000 square metres and hosts the ruins of these buildings: spa and ancient Patrician's residences. The Park is divided into sections (Villa dell'Ambulatio, Terme di Mercurio, Terme della Sosandra, Terme di Diana and Terme di Venere).

The “Piscina Mirabilis” is the largest Roman water cistern. It was built during Augustus age: it is carved into the tuff and it is covered with a vault supported by many pillars that form five naves.
In ancient age, the cistern supplied the imperial Roman fleet docked at the port of Miseno. The water came from Serino (in the Avellino area), traveled 100 kilometres (supplying Naples and the Phlegraean Fields) and finally arrived in Miseno.
This ancient structure is now a “temple of water”: a very suggestive archaeological site of great beauty.

The Antro della Sibilla (Sibyl's Cave) is located near the Avernus Lake and it's the most famous site of the ancient Cuma. The cave was carved into the tuff during the Augustus age and it consists of a trapezoidal corridor over 130 meters long with side openings, from which air and natural light entered. At the end of the corridor there is a rectangular square. According to some scholars this place was a military building.
Legend tells that the cave was the place where the “Sibilla Cumana”, the Priestess of Apollo, gave prophecies. In the myth, the earth and the air elements coexist: the Sibilla used to write her prophecies on palm leaves. Then the wind (arriving from the openings of the corridor) shuffled the leaves and the oracles became “sibyilines” (“of doubtful interpretation”). Virgil refers to Sybil as seer and Enea guide in the realm of “Inferi”.
Sibyl's Cave is one of the most fascintaing and mysterious places in the Phlegraean Fields.