The Underwater Park of Gaiola

About this activity

A paradise just a stone's throw from Posillipo, it is the Marine Protected Area of the Gaiola Underwater Park, from the Borgo di Marechiaro to the wonderful Bay of Trentaremi. A fusion of volcanological, biological and historical-archaeological aspects in one of the most striking coastal landscapes of the Gulf of Naples. The cliffs of yellow tufa along with the colors of the Mediterranean scrub give glimpses of unmissable beauty that enchant all who pass by. It takes its name from the two islets of Gaiola in front of the Posillipo coast, joined together by a bridge, called Cavea in Latin for the cavities that characterize the coast, which in Neapolitan became Caviola and then Gaiola.

Why visit the Gaiola Underwater Park

The beauty of these places amazed peoples from the first century B.C. who in fact began to settle here. Numerous villas were built including that of the Pausilypon, which in Greek means "place where sorrows end," erected by Publius Vadius Pollonius. With his death in 15 BC it became the Imperial Villa and occupied a large part of the present Park. Along the coast and under the sea surface it is possible to see remains of other maritime villas, tufa quarries, landing places, nymphaeums and fishponds, which became submerged due to the bradyseism phenomenon that characterizes the area. Access to the park is located at the end of the eponymous Gaiola Descent.

During antiquity it was called Euplea, in honor of Venus Euplea protector of seafarers; in fact, a temple dedicated to her also stood here, the ruins of which are now the natural habitat of marine species. The geomorphological complexity of the area has meant that over time octopuses, bream, damselfish and clouds of guarracini settled here among gorgonians and ancient remains. This marine protected area today is an important site for research, training, scientific dissemination and environmental education. The area is divided into two zones, zone A integral reserve around the islets, in which no bathing, no fishing, diving, anchoring, mooring or sailing that could ruin the archaeological remains is allowed, instead guided tours are allowed. In zone B general reserve, on the other hand, mooring, professional but not underwater or line fishing, free diving, motor boating, guided tours are allowed.

What to do in the Underwater Park of Gaiola

Here it is possible to book snorkeling activities, scuba diving for those with a patent, kayaking or simply bathing in the crystal-clear waters upon reservation for access to zone B, the public bathing area. The marine protected area also offers the opportunity to admire the seabed with the transparent-bottomed boat Aquavision, or a land itinerary within the Pausilypon Archaeological-Environmental Park, or even a mixed land and sea intinerary with a visit to the Pausilypon Park, entry into the Seiano Cave and boarding on Aquavision. At the exit of the Grotta di Seiano you can see the Gulf of Pozzuoli.

The Curse of Gaiola

In addition to wonderful glimpses, the Gaiola is also home to a fascinating and terrible curse. It is said that the school of magic of Virgil and that through the fault of one of the poet's students the island was cursed bringing misfortune and death to all who lived there, including Pollione, reaching down to the seabed steeped in black magic.

In 1871 the islet was bought then by Luigi Negri but immediately resold in the following year due to the company's bankruptcy. Worse was the fate of the next owner and his wife, Hans Braun, who was found murdered and wrapped in a rug under mysterious circumstances that have never been clarified while his wife drowned a few months later at sea during a storm due to the failure of the cable of the cableway connecting Gaiola with the mainland. It is said to this day during stormy days her wails can still be heard. Later the island was bought by Otto Grunback who died of a heart attack. The beauty of this place despite everything continued to enchant, and in 1950 Gaiola was bought by Maurice Sandoz, who died by suicide shortly after living in Pollione's villa, and then passed to Giovanni Agnelli who sold it shortly after to Paul Getty, whose son was kidnapped in 1973. The last owner, Gianpasquale Grappone, founder of Lloyd Centauro, also ended up in debt-laden jail shortly after purchasing the island, and his wife died in a car accident.

It seems that even casual visitors to the island are not immune to this dark curse. In 1911, Captain Gaspare Albenga approached the coast to impress Marquise Boccardi Doria and was stranded. One night Marquise Elena Von Parish was returning to the island, when due to the storm a cable from a cableway built in 1926 to connect the island to the mainland broke, striking the woman, who was never found again. The men who housed her committed suicide out of remorse for having led her to that cursed place.

As of today, the island has been uninhabited for about forty years now and has become the property of the Campania Region, no one dares to venture out anymore in defiance of black magic.