Herculaneum and Vesuvius
Duration: 8 hours
You will visit Herculaneum, an archaeological site discovered alongside Pompeii, which was also buried by the eruption of 79 AD. You will discover the ruins of private houses, stately villas, and temples dedicated to the gods. Don’t miss a visit to Vesuvius, the majestic volcano that buried the cities at its foot.
HERCULANEUM
This renowned archaeological site is located about ten kilometers from Naples, on the western slopes of Mount Vesuvius and not far from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The modern town in Campania that welcomes tourists on their arrival is an active agricultural center with small industries. Until 1969, it was called Resina, a name that has remained to indicate its lively antiques market. Ancient Herculaneum, which legend says was founded by Hercules, began as a Greek settlement. In the 6th century BC, it fell under the influence of Naples and Cuma, and then the Samnites; it eventually became an elegant resort for Roman patricians. In 62 AD, a powerful earthquake damaged numerous buildings and seventeen years later (79 AD), a terrifying eruption of Vesuvius buried everything, consecrating those moments forever in the memory of posterity. Archaeological excavations, which began clandestinely in the early 18th century, were made official in 1738; interrupted several times, they were resumed systematically in 1927. They offer visitors the fascinating beauty of private houses and stately villas, some of which also preserve the remains of charred furniture. Among the most beautiful are the Casa Sannitica, the Casa del Tramezzo di Legno, the Casa dei Cervi, and the Casa dell’Atrio a Mosaico, scenically built on the ramparts that bordered the city towards the sea.
