Villa Romana del Torchio

The building, datable between the 1st and 2nd century AD, takes its name from the discovery inside it of a ‘torcularium’ used to press the marc.

The building, with a quadrangular layout, not only has a manor sector, but also a distinct pars fructuaria, i.e. a sector for producing and storing wine.
The discovery of a wine cellar and a wine press in fair condition suggest that the building was a centre for the production and distribution of wine for nearby Puteoli. The entire villa is organised like a modern farm, with rooms set up according to the needs of the Roman lords of Falanghina: the torcularium (the wine press) - which has remained almost intact - consists of a calcatorium (the base) made of earthenware for pressing, on which the wine press was installed for the subsequent pressing of the marc.
A wine press made up of a vertical support embedded in a large block of lava stone, onto which the prelum (the circular lava stone) was grafted and then lowered onto a basket. The Roman lords of Falanghina also equipped the cellar with huge vats for the collection of the wine, which are perfectly preserved. After fermentation, the must was collected in large vats. The only intact dolium (wine skin) was found behind the cellar.

From the 5th century A.D. the area was used for burials: 24 tombs of different types have been found near the courtyard. Hundreds of bronze coins were found.

On 20 January 2022 the villa became part of the Campi Flegrei Archaeological Park.