It's Malibu, New York, and Washington, D.C., all rolled into one.

Before AD 79, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and engulfed Pompeii and Herculaneum, the southern Italian port town of Stabia was a summer retreat for some of the most powerful people in the Roman Empire.

Julius Caesar, Emperor Augustus, Emperor Tiberius and statesman-philosopher Cicero all had homes there.

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Overlooking the Bay of Naples, enjoying fresh breezes and rich mineral waters from natural springs, the beachfront villas range from 110,000 to 200,000 square feet and represent the finest in painting, architecture and refined style, paying homage to the importance of their owners.

Sexual tribute.

Those glorious days are long gone and today, finding this ancient resort and its palatial villas is like going on a treasure hunt.

On the road to Sorrento comes the bustling working-class town of Castellammare di Stabia, a modern alternative to Sorrento that lacks any trace of its predecessor's prominence.

There's no point in asking the locals: many of them ignore the existence of Stabia, let alone its location.

It's a 20 minute walk to the general area but it's still hard to know exactly how to get to the villa.

Destined to change.

Stabia is about to emerge from anonymity, thanks in large part to a local high school principal and one of his students.

This summer, a massive $200 million excavation program will begin at the 150-acre Stabiae Archaeological Park, one of the largest archaeological projects in Europe since World War II.

Thomas Noble Howe, general coordinator of the nonprofit Restoration of Gustabia (RAS) and chair of art history at Texas Southwestern University, describes the villas as “the best preserved among the elite seaside Roman villas in the entire Mediterranean world.”

"The largest concentration," said Leo Varone, the foundation's U.S.-based executive coordinator and there are believed to be at least six or seven, is not just a place of pensions and luxury for Rome's super-rich.

During the summer months, the capital was actually moved here from Rome, and some of the most pivotal events of the Roman Empire actually took place in the great villas on the Bay of Naples. From that town and Pompeii (three miles away), via

The existing Circumvesuviana commuter train line (connected to the new funicular railway) provides easy access to the park.

Park amenities will include panoramic walking trails, outdoor theaters, museums, restaurants, visitor and education centers, opening upon completion of each phase.

To protect the integrity of the area, a maximum of 250,000 visitors per year are allowed, far fewer than the 2.5 million who visited Pompeii.

Uncovering the original street entrance area of ??Villa San Marco, one of two well-excavated villas, will be the first major excavation in Stabia in more than half a century, and a long and poignant one.

The latest chapter of the story.

After an initial excavation in the 18th century, work was stopped so that more money could be used to excavate Pompeii.

The exposed villa was repainted so well that, in fact, by the mid-20th century, the villa was long lost and its location forgotten.

It was then that Libero D'Orsi, the principal of the local high school where Varone studied, used his own money to find a villa with the help of the school janitor and an unemployed mechanic.

They found them but eventually ran out of funds and suspended their work.

Major excavations are scheduled to begin this summer for a $200 million project at the 150-acre Stabiae Archaeological Park, an artist's show.

(Courtesy of the Foundation for the Restoration of Ancient Stabia and the Archaeological Supervision of Pompeii) The Santa Abiae (description of the completed park) is one of the largest archaeological projects in Europe since World War II.

(Courtesy of the Foundation for the Restoration of Ancient Stabia and Pompeii Archaeological Supervision) After some preliminary excavations at Stabia in the 18th century, excavation work was stopped so that funds could be invested in the excavation of Pompeii.

(Thanks to the Restoration Foundation of Gustabia and the Archaeological Supervision of Pompeii) The discovery of the original street entrance area of ??the Villa of San Marco will be the first major excavation at Stabia in more than half a century.

(Courtesy of the Restoration by the Monstabia Foundation and supervision by the Archaeological Office of Pompeii) Frescoes like this Cupid statue can be seen throughout, including those thought to be the rooms of the kitchen staff.

(Courtesy of the Restoration of Gustabia and Supervision of the Archeology of Pompeii) Some works (this one depicting Perseus) were restored during a fresco movement that allowed individuals or groups to pay for restorations.

(Courtesy of the Restoration by the Monstabian Foundation and the Supervision of the Archaeological Office of Pompeii) A visit to the Villa San Marco (above, with a swimming pool area) is like a window into the world of the Roman Titans.

(Courtesy of the Restoration of Gustabia Foundation and Pompeii Archaeological Supervision) Julius Caesar, the emperors Augustus and Tiberius, as well as the statesman-philosopher Cicero all had homes in Stabia.

(Courtesy of the Foundation for the Restoration of Stabia and the Archaeological Supervision of Pompeii) Inspired by his high school principal and the various archaeological sites around Stabia, Varon had no doubts about his career choice “from

Ever since I was seven years old,” he said, “I’ve wanted to be an architect.