Baia

Town in Campania region, southwest Italy, on the Bay of Naples, 15 km/9 mi west of Naples. Founded as a Greek colony, in Roman times it was a thermal spa with baths, warm sulphur springs, and palatial villas. There are remains of the temples of Venus, Mercury, and Diana.

It was a favourite resort of the Roman emperors; Nero built a villa here, and Hadrian died in a house that had belonged to Julius Caesar. It had from early times a reputation for immorality; the Roman orator and politician Cicero once apologized for defending a man who had lived here.