POZZUOLI
It is the most important centre of phlegraean area, founded in 530 b.C. by a group of aristocratic exiles coming from Samo Island, who called it Dikaiàrcheia, meaning "fair government",
in opposition to the motherland administration dominated by the tyrannous Policrate.
In 194 b.C. it became a "Civium Romanorum Colony" and the Greek name of Dicearchia was changed into the Roman one "Puteoli" (from the Latin
"puteus" = well), probably due to the numerous thermal springs in the area. Thus started the extraordinary fortune of the city, that in few decades became one of the most important harbour in the Mediterranean, call of all maritime traffics between Rome and the East.
The numerous private and public buildings, whose ruins are appreciated still today, are a proof of the opulence of Puteoli. Its impressive port structures, today submerged because of descending bradyseism, its two roman amphitheatres (it is the unique city in the world to have two amphitheatres - the greater one is the third in Italy for its seating capacity, after that in Rome and Capua), its thermal bathes, its Augustan Temple, its monumental Forum, its aqueducts, its nymphaeums, its necropolis, its stadium, its food market (the so called "Temple of Serapis "), its intact streets, are all a clear proof of the richness of this city.
The real decline of Puteoli started only in Vth century, not only as a consequence of the general crisis of the empire, but also for the descending bradyseism that submerged its port structures, confining the life of Pozzuoli on the "castrum" (the so called "Rione Terra", the acropolis).
From XVIIth century to the first half of XIXth century, Pozzuoli represented an obliged stage for many English, German and French Grand Tours made by English, German and French (instructive and relaxing journeys made by European aristocracy above all to Italy and France), which enhanced the tourist vocation of this area till nowadays (above all after the unhappy industrial growth begun at the end of 1800 and ended about one century later).
In recent times, besides the archaeological and landscape attractiveness, autochthonous
food-and-wine connoisseurship has mostly increased: the agriculture, the wine (such as the famous "Falangina", or "Piedirosso"), the renowned fishing (the relevant fish market) and the thermal baths (still famous at Roman times).