Scavi di Stabia โ Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna
The Scavi di Stabia โ Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna, on the Varano hill โ are about 3 km from Maricelle Rooms in Castellammare di Stabia, a few minutes away by car or local bus. Free entry, closed on Tuesdays.
They are the archaeological treasure many guests don't expect to find on the B&B's doorstep: two Roman otium villas looking out over the Gulf, right here in town. The finds recovered within these walls are now displayed at the Museo Archeologico di Stabia, in the Reggia di Quisisana โ the two places complete each other and are easy to see in a single day.
Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna
Villa San Marco is one of the largest leisure residences of the Roman world, with peristyles, private baths and refined frescoes; nearby Villa Arianna keeps the fresco that gives it its name, showing Ariadne abandoned by Theseus. Built on the edge of the Varano hill, these aristocratic homes enjoyed the same sea view you still admire today: a privileged outlook over ancient Stabiae, buried by the eruption of AD 79 along with Pompei and Ercolano.
Getting there
By car
A few minutes from Maricelle Rooms: head up towards the Varano hill following the signs for Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna. From here it is also an easy run back to Maricelle Rooms.
By local bus
Castellammare's city bus lines connect the town centre to the Varano area, where the two sites stand. A handy option if you are not travelling by car.
The route from the B&B
The route from Maricelle Rooms to Villa San Marco, on the Varano hill in Castellammare di Stabia.
Useful information
- The finds from the two villas are displayed at the Museo Archeologico di Stabia, in the Reggia di Quisisana, also in Castellammare di Stabia.
- Free entry; the excavations are open daily except Tuesdays. They are part of the Parco Archeologico di Pompei.
- The same three-day combined ticket of the Parco Archeologico di Pompei also covers the Stabia villas โ a good way to pair the visit with Pompei.
- Official information on scavidistabiae.it
- Pompeii
- Stabiae Archaeological Museum