Pompeii

Pompeii: What visitors assume, and what makes it special

Pompeii remains one of Italy’s most compelling travel destinations. Each year, millions of people from around the world make the journey to walk its ancient streets, see remarkable ruins and sense the life that once filled the city. The archaeological park recorded more than four million visitors in recent seasons, drawing crowds that average 15,000–20,000 […]

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Conservators restore frescoes at Villa di Poppea in Italy. Image courtesy Archaeological Park of Pompeii.

New frescoes emerge at Villa di Poppea, Oplontis

Archaeologists working at the Villa di Poppea in Oplontis, near Pompeii, have uncovered vivid new frescoes and extended parts of the ancient villa believed to date to the mid-1st century BCE. The discoveries form part of ongoing excavation and conservation work in the western sector of the site, and are beginning to reveal previously hidden […]

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Aerial view of Pompeii and Vesuvius Image credit: Pompeii sites on X

Pompeii’s Last Day: New Study Revisits the Date of Vesuvius’ Eruption

The catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which buried Pompeii and Herculaneum, has long been a source of historical intrigue. Traditionally dated to 24 August based on the writings of Pliny the Younger, this timeline has been questioned over the years, with some scholars proposing a later autumn date.

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