To this day, no one knows exactly how the fig tree managed to grow in that position, or how long it has been developing.
In the ancient ruins of Baiae, near the modern city of Bacoli in Italy, there is a famous tree not known for its thousand-year lifespan, massive trunk, or beautiful blooms… but rather for its strange posture. It is called the upside-down fig tree.
Unexplained Phenomenon
Looking at the resilient tree growing on the roof of an ancient Roman archway, it is easy to see why it is called the upside-down tree. It literally grows upside down, with its branches reaching down towards the ground, as if it were hanging from the arch, defying the laws of physics and baffling botanists.
Upside-down fig tree defying the laws of physics.
To this day, no one knows exactly how the fig tree managed to grow in that position or how long it has been developing, but one thing is certain – despite its strange location, the fig tree continues to thrive year after year and occasionally even bears fruit.
The common fig tree (Ficus carica) is one of the first species cultivated by humans. Fossils of this tree have been found in the Jordan Valley dating back to 9,400 BC. Thus, it is no surprise that this gravity-defying tree appears in the town of Baiae in ancient Rome.
The fig tree typically prefers dry, sunny locations, but its strong roots and ability to thrive in low-water conditions allow it to endure harsh environments. This upside-down fig tree is a clear testament to that. It can thrive remarkably without needing to be watered.
This upside-down fig tree has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Baiae.
Once a lively resort for the ruling class of Rome, Baiae is now an archaeological park attracting tourists from around the world.
In recent years, this upside-down fig tree has become one of the most visited sites in Baiae, serving as evidence that nature always holds wonders beyond human imagination.
The Ancient Land
In its heyday, the city of Baiae in ancient Rome was a vibrant and trendy resort for the elite. Today, one-fifth of the city’s area lies submerged underwater. The vast archaeological park beneath the sea has been described by archaeologists as the place where emperors like Augustus, Caesar, and Nero once stayed.
Baiae is also a land of active volcanoes. For centuries, the shifting of the Earth’s crust in the area has triggered hydrothermal and seismic activity, causing much of the city to sink below the shoreline.
Not only is the upside-down fig tree famous among the ancient Roman ruins, but visitors can also explore the submerged city with glass-bottom boat tours across the archaeological site.
The way it was discovered is also quite surprising. In the 1940s, a pilot flying high above noticed something unusual beneath the waves just off the coast of Naples. Although the photos taken by the pilot seemed to show structures beneath the ocean, it took two decades before researchers undertook submarine trips for a closer look at the ancient city submerged under the sea.
Not only is the famous upside-down fig tree located among the Roman ruins on land at the Parco Archeologico delle Terme di Baia, but visitors can also tour the sunken city with glass-bottom boat excursions over the ancient archaeological sites.
