Divers find ancient Roman ruins — likely part of sprawling villa — off Italy coast

A team of divers recently explored ancient Roman ruins submerged beneath the sea off the coast of Italy.

The sunken remains — which form a large, ring-like stone structure — are located just offshore from Campo di Mare, a seaside Italian town about 30 miles from Rome.

The divers photographed the remains to better understand their provenance before they are further eroded by the waves, according to a May 31 news release from Italy’s Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape. It’s not clear when the remains were first discovered.

During dives in April and May, the team discovered that the circular ruins have a diameter of about 165 feet, officials said.

They constitute a row of two walls — held together by mortar and fixed in a clay foundation — that are located 10 feet away from each other.

Pillars that likely helped stabilize the structure were also found.

Additionally, preserved brickwork and other fragments of flooring were located inside the ruins.

The findings suggest the structure once served as an elegant, sea-side pavilion, officials said.

It’s likely that it was associated with a villa that may still be submerged beneath the sand and is waiting to be discovered.

Given its proximity to Rome, the villa may have belonged to a member of the Roman aristocracy.

During the Roman era, villas were built as sprawling country estates that served as second homes for well-to-do Romans, according to the Student’s Guide to Italian Renaissance Architecture, a nonprofit research organization.

“Villas functioned as retreats from the pressures of city life, a condition referred to as negotium, and brought the enjoyment of restful leisure, called otium,” according to the organization.

More research, including a geophysical prospecting operation, will be conducted to further demystify and safeguard the coastal site, officials said.

Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Italian government.

This story was originally published May 31, 2024 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Divers find ancient Roman ruins — likely part of sprawling villa — off Italy coast."