Pompeii, located in Southern Naples, is the famous Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Tourists from all over the world go to visit Pompeii, but in reality there is another city, Herculaneum, also submerged in ashes, whose ruins are still better preserved and the buildings remained practically intact after almost 2000 years.
In addition to this, there is another too overlooked aspect, the site includes the superb wall paintings of the Villa Oplontis in Torre Annunziata, which give a lively impression of the opulent lifestyle of the wealthiest citizens of the early Roman Empire.
The reason why the entire archaeological area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 is to be found in the impressive ruins of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and their villas, buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Ruins that provide a complete and lively picture of society and daily life at a specific time in the past, which have no equal anywhere else in the world.
The UNESCO motivation:
“Unique places that constitute a complete testimony of Roman society and daily life. Unique places that have no equivalent anywhere in the world”
What to see in particular?
In Pompeii, Villa dei Misteri dedicated to Dionysus; in Herculaneum, Villa dei Papiri and Casa dei Cervi (a luxurious Roman sea view residence); in Torre Annunziata, Villa of Poppea Sabina, Nero’s second wife.
Excavations still continue unabated and restoration work is carried out incessantly, leading to ever more surprising discoveries.
