Scavi di Ercolano
Ercolano
FamousHistory & archaeology
The story
A Roman town petrified by volcanic mud, with wooden beams, beds and doors still in place: here time stopped more intact than anywhere.
Access
€ 16, closed Wednesday, 1st Sunday free
The story
Herculaneum was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 together with Pompeii, but by a different blanket — mud and materials that carbonised and preserved even wood, food and fabrics. Rediscovered by chance in 1709 while digging a well, it was investigated from 1738 and then, systematically, by Amedeo Maiuri from 1927. Since 1997 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What to see
Smaller and more compact than Pompeii, Herculaneum astonishes for its state of preservation: multi-storey houses with wooden floors, signs, furnishings, the dense web of alleys of a Roman city left as it was. Many of the most precious finds are today at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
How to get there
- Circumvesuviana
Tips
Reckon on a couple of hours and comfortable shoes. The site is less vast than Pompeii: ideal for those who want to understand a Roman city without the enormous distances of the Pompeian excavations. Check hours and tickets on the site of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum. It is also easily reached by the Circumvesuviana.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Herculaneum and Pompeii?
Herculaneum is smaller but preserved exceptionally well: the type of burial preserved even wood, food and organic objects, and multi-storey buildings survive.
Are the excavations of Herculaneum a UNESCO site?
Yes, since 1997, together with the ruins of Pompeii and Oplontis.
Where are the finds discovered at Herculaneum?
Many of the most important are kept at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN).
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