The ancient Stabiæ, as we read in the classics, was praised by Galen as a place with a pleasant climate, excellent milk and medicinal waters.
Columella reminds us that Stabia was famous for its sources: “Fontibus et Stabiae celebres”.
On the hill of Varano at about 80 m above sea level it is possible to visit Villa San Marco and Villa di Arianna which represent two typical otium villas in the archaeological panorama of Campania, used by the rich Roman patricians as a holiday resort.
Both architectural structures develop in a panoramic position, dominating with their terraces the modern town of Castellammare di Stabia and the whole bay of Naples.
Unfortunately, at the moment the names of their respective owners are unknown, most likely they were veterans or officers of the Capo Miseno fleet, since the port of Stabia was configured as a “statio navalis”, that is, a military landing of the Empire.
In Stabia the old man died of asphyxiation, during the same eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD which covered the whole area under a blanket of ash and lapilli thick about two and a half meters.
an hour and a half before closing.