MAV — Museo Archeologico Virtuale di Ercolano
Ercolano (NA)
KnownMuseums
The story
With digital and multimedia reconstructions it brings back to life Herculaneum, Pompeii and the Vesuvian cities as they were before the eruption of AD 79.
Access
ticket; check opening hours on the official website
The story
The MAV — Virtual Archaeological Museum of Herculaneum, a few steps from the excavations, tells of the life of the Roman cities at the foot of Vesuvius shortly before the eruption of 79. Inaugurated in 2008 in the former Iaccarino school building, it is among the most important virtual museums of its kind in the world.
What to see
Not finds, but reconstructions: over about five thousand square metres and three levels, digital and multimedia installations bring back to life Pompeii, Herculaneum and the other Vesuvian cities as they were before the catastrophe. It is the way to 'see' what the eruption erased, to be combined with a visit to the real excavations.
Tips
It is a few steps from the Excavations of Herculaneum: combine it with a visit to the archaeological site to compare ruins and reconstruction. Check hours and tickets on the official site. Also suited to families with children.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MAV of Herculaneum?
A virtual archaeological museum that, with digital and multimedia reconstructions, brings back to life Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Vesuvian cities as they were before the eruption of 79.
Are there original finds at the MAV?
No: the MAV is a museum of multimedia reconstructions, complementary to a visit to the real archaeological excavations.
Where is the MAV?
At Herculaneum, a few steps from the archaeological excavations.
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