Italy is known for its famous ruins and geological activity, sometimes coming together like in the case of Mt Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii. In the mid-18th century, when Pompeii was being unearthed by archaeologists, so was the Macellum in the city of Pozzuoli in southern Italy, now more commonly known as the childhood home of the actress Sophia Loren. Back when it was known as Puteoli in the 1st and 2nd century CE, the site used to be a marketplace. But, wait. How did it become the Temple of Serapis?

The marketplace was never a temple, but archaeologists had misidentified it when they discovered a statue of Serapis, and they hadn’t realised that it was a marketplace until the 20th century. Why was this site uncovered so late, if it hadn’t been covered by lava like Pompeii? The answer lies in the volcanic activity of Campi Flegrei, where the buildup of gases within the nearby volcano causes the site itself to sink and rise as it lies 30m below the sea level! Because of this, depending on when you visit it, the columns could be slightly submerged in water or the foundations could be completely dry! Though not as dramatic as Pompeii, the Macellum of Pozzuoli is a significant site for those interested in Roman history and geology, as the effects of volcanic activity is so clear and easy to see here.