To this day no one knows exactly how the fig tree got there, or how long it has been growing.

In the ancient ruins of Baiae, near the modern city of Bacoli in Italy, there is a tree famous not for its thousand-year-old age, massive body or beautiful blooming flowers… but for its strange posture. its strange. It is called an inverted fig tree.

No one can explain

Looking at the tenacious tree that grew on the roof of an ancient Roman archway, it’s easy to see why it’s called an ingrown tree. It literally grows upside down, growing from the top to the ground, as if hanging from a dome, defying all the laws of physics and baffling botanists.

The fig tree grows upside down, defying the laws of physics

To this day no one knows exactly how the fig tree came to be in that location, or how long it has grown, but one thing is for sure – despite its odd location, the fig tree still thrives. grow stronger year by year and sometimes even bear fruit.

The common fig tree (Ficus carica) was one of the first plants to be cultivated by humans. Fossils of this plant have been found in the Jordan Valley dating back to 9,400 BC. So it’s no wonder this particular gravity defying tree appeared in the ancient Roman town of Baiae.

Fig trees generally prefer dry, sunny locations, but their strong roots and ability to thrive in low water conditions allow the tree to cope in harsh environments on its own. This upside-down fig tree is a testament to that. It does not need to be watered and can grow amazingly green.

In recent years, this ingrown fig tree has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Baiae. It is proof that nature always hides miracles that humans cannot imagine.

Ancient land

In its heyday, the ancient Roman city of Baiae was a vibrant and trendy resort for the ruling class. Now, one-fifth of the city is under water. The vast undersea archaeological park is described by archaeologists as the place where emperors such as Augustus, Caesar and Nero once lived.

Baiae is also an active volcanic region. Over the course of several centuries, the curvature of the Earth’s crust in the region triggered hydrothermal and seismic activity that caused much of the city to be lowered below the coast.

Not only is the inverted fig tree famous among the ancient Roman ruins, visitors can also tour the underwater city, with glass-bottom boat tours that move across the water at the ruins. Archaeologists.

The way it was discovered was also surprising. In the 1940s, a pilot flying an airplane in the sky noticed something unusual beneath the waves just off the coast of Naples. Although the photos taken by the pilot appear to show structures in the ocean, it took two decades before researchers took submarine trips to get a closer look at the city. Ancient sunk under the sea.

Not only is the famous upside-down fig tree among the above-ground Roman ruins at the Parco Archeologico delle Terme di Baia, visitors can also tour the submerged city, with glass-bottom boat tours. moving on water at ancient archaeological ruins.