2Herculaneum in Italy

Herculaneum is probably the best preserved ancient site in the world. Buried under 16 metres of ash and mud during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, two-storey homes have remained in tact, with most of the internal architecture and décor still visible. Everyday items like fabric, food and furniture have also been preserved.

While Herculaneum is smaller than nearby Pompeii, walking around the city gives you a unique view into the daily lives of everyday people in ancient Rome. The most fascinating part of walking through Herculaneum is the seeing the houses and shops, and getting an idea of what the ancient city would have looked like. The shops still have some of the fittings and the baths have wooden shelves, making it easier to imagine everyday life in the city. One of the more impressive houses in the city, the Villa of the Papyri, was once home to Julius Caesar’s father in law and leads to the sea. In this villa and many others, you can see frescoes, floors and other decorations and well as seeing the layout of the homes. There is also a museum on site, opened in 2018 and displaying jewellery and other precious objects from the archaeological site.

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