Herculaneum

travel wonder in Italy

Why

Herculaneum

is special

Like Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried by the catastrophic Mt. Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD.  The excavated buildings of Herculaneum are better preserved.

Tips & insights on

Herculaneum

The town was covered with nearly 20 meters (60 feet) of lava, mud, ash and other volcanic debris.

Herculaneum lay hidden and forgotten for well over a millennium before it was discovered in 1709.

Today, most of the ruins are not yet excavated. No doubt surprises await future archaeologists.

The Villa of the Papri is the most noteworthy building complex because it stockpiled 2,000 ancient scrolls. Scientists are using modern multi-spectrum electronic equipment to read the scrolls (unrolling them would likely destroy them).

Many skeletons were found huddled in the portside buildings. Apparently, these people unsuccessfully tried to escape by boat.

Herculaneum was appreciably smaller than Pompeii, but more prosperous.

It attracts far fewer tourists than Pompeii. This is a plus for travelers who like exploring archaeological sites in a quieter, more peaceful environment.

Herculeum was named for the Greek god Hercules.

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©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications