In Roman times, many villas were built along the Amalfi Coast.
Those villas were called “maritimae” as they were accessible by the sea.
Positano and the archipelago of Li Galli were chosen by rich romans or freedmen to build their luxury villas between the 1st BC and the beginning of the 1st AD.
Unfortunately, nowadays the two villas are difficult to visit.
The ruins of the Villa in Gallo Lungo (Li Galli) have been covered by the modern Villa of Leonide Massine and only when the sea water is really clear it is possible to see the small roman pier of the islands.
Regarding the Villa in Positano, it is situated into the center of the town, between Mulini Square and the Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta.
The villa was probably covered and half destroyed by lapilli and mud during the Vesuvius Eruption of the 79 AD. It was discovered during the 17th century and then explored by Carl Weber during the 18th century.
According to some scholars (Della Corte), the villa was probably property of a gladiator, called Posides Claudi Cesaris libertus (a freedman to whom the emperor Claudius gave the “pure sword”, a trophy for victories on Britons). If this theory is right, the name of Positano could derive from Posides as the villa can be considered the “praedium posidetanum” (property of Posides).
For now, only one section of the villa has been explored and with a new structural restoration it will be possible to visit it.
photo by Francesco Fusco Positano
(courtesy of Francesco Fusco Positano)