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Scavi di Pompei - Ercolano

The ruins of Pompeii represent an extraordinary testament to the ancient world, thanks to the city's remarkable state of preservation. It remained almost entirely intact after the eruption in 79 AD, which erased it from the Vesuvius landscape.

Due to its location, the city was home to a flourishing indigenous settlement between the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Situated between the sea and the Sarno River, Pompeii took advantage of two vital communication routes that facilitated trade. In the 5th century BC, the city came under the control of the Samnites, while still being influenced by Greek and Etruscan cultures.

In the 3rd century BC, following the Punic Wars, Pompeii fell under Roman influence and became permanently tied to Rome in 80 BC when Sulla founded the colony. Starting in the mid-18th century, excavations commissioned by the Bourbons and continued for over a century brought the city to light, providing us with a complete picture of daily life in Roman times.

After an intense archaeological visit, you'll be enveloped by the aroma of local delicacies emanating from the streets of the city: a pizza or fresh mozzarella at the foot of Pompeii's ruins.

A visit to the fascinating and historically rich Herculaneum is also a must.

In 79 AD, an unexpected roar interrupted daily life at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. A column of volcanic material rose to 14 kilometers in height, releasing a rain of lapilli and pumice that, carried by the wind, began to settle on Pompeii and nearby towns. It was the beginning of the catastrophe.

Within a few hours, the volcano unleashed an overwhelming amount of pyroclastic material that forever transformed the Vesuvian landscape.

Herculaneum was first hit by scorching clouds, with temperatures of around 400°C traveling at speeds of over 80 km/h, and later buried under mudflows that covered the city beneath approximately 20 meters of volcanic material.

In the 1980s, on the ancient Herculaneum shoreline, within the arches opening onto the beach, the remains of over 300 fugitives were discovered. On the night of the eruption, these people had fled their homes, heading toward the sea in the hope of rescue. Their hope was dashed by a fiery cloud that extinguished their dreams and lives forever.