Pompeii, located in southern Naples, is the famous Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Tourists from all over the world come to visit Pompeii, but there is another city — Herculaneum — that was also buried under volcanic ash and whose ruins are even better preserved. Many of its buildings remain virtually intact after nearly 2,000 years.
In addition, there’s an often-overlooked treasure: the site includes the remarkable wall paintings of the Villa of Oplontis in Torre Annunziata, which vividly reflect the luxurious lifestyle of the wealthiest citizens of the early Roman Empire.
The entire archaeological area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 due to the extraordinary preservation of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and their villas, all buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
These ruins offer an unparalleled, vivid snapshot of Roman society and everyday life at a specific moment in time — a level of preservation unmatched anywhere else in the world.
UNESCO’s statement of significance:
“Unique sites that provide a complete testimony of Roman society and daily life. Unique places that have no equivalent anywhere in the world.”
What to see in particular?
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In Pompeii: the Villa of the Mysteries, dedicated to Dionysus
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In Herculaneum: the Villa of the Papyri and the House of the Deer, a luxurious seaside Roman residence
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In Torre Annunziata: the Villa of Poppaea Sabina, second wife of Emperor Nero
Excavations continue to this day, and ongoing restoration work constantly leads to new and astonishing discoveries.
