What to see at the Herculaneum excavations

INDEX:

1. Everything you can see at the Herculaneum excavations
2. The suburban baths of Herculaneum
3. Decumanus maximus of Herculaneum
4. The houses to see in the archaeological excavations of Herculaneum

Herculaneum, like Pompeii, was also destroyed in the tremendous eruption of Vesuvius on 24 October 79 AD.

However, unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum, due to its location on the slopes of Vesuvius, was not initially hit by the rain of ash and lapilli. But only by the powerful pyroclastic flow (gas at very high temperatures up to 400°, water vapour and ash) that led to the instant death of many Herculaneum residents.

Due to the dynamics of the eruption, Herculaneum is in an excellent state of preservation, as the houses did not collapse under the weight of the ash and lapilli.

For this reason in Herculaneum you can see beautiful villas and beautifully decorated houses, charred furniture, doors and windows, and coins still preserved in leather or cloth bags.

In short, Herculaneum, although very small compared to Pompeii, is really a jewel worth seeing and learning about!

I recommend that you do this together with an experienced tour guide! Every detail and every detail of this beautiful site will take on a different form as you listen to the history and customs of those who lived in this splendid place. Moreover, only together with a guide will you be able to discover the real Herculaneum of 2000 years ago.

Everything you can see at the Herculaneum excavations

The Herculaneum excavations altogether measure about 4 hectares, in total 50 buildings can be seen at Herculaneum. And it takes about 3 hours to visit the entire archaeological park.

Among the many buildings that can be seen at Herculaneum and that represent the symbol of the catastrophic eruption that struck the city are the fornices.

Here, before the eruption of Vesuvius struck Herculaneum, the fornici, due to their position close to the sea, were used as storage places for boats.

And it was there that, on that terrible night of 24 October 79 A.D., some 300 inhabitants of Herculaneum took shelter while waiting for help to escape the devastation of Vesuvius, help that unfortunately never arrived.

The 300 charred skeletons of the ancient Herculaneum residents can be seen in the Herculaneum furnaces. Including the remains of a pregnant woman close to giving birth and another woman still wearing her jewellery.

Near the exit of Herculaneum, it is also possible to see the charred skeleton of the boat, which was found on the beach at Herculaneum, in a specially designed hall.

The 9-metre long and 1-metre high skeleton of the Herculaneum boat was found on 3 August 1982 perfectly preserved. Thanks to the absence of oxygen and the pyroclastic flow that kept it intact for centuries.

The suburban baths of Herculaneum

At Herculaneum you can also see the magnificent suburban baths, one of the best-preserved bath buildings of all the excavations.

They were located near the sea and had large windows overlooking the sea, as well as eight skylights that illuminated the interior.

The baths were where the Herculaneans went for saunas, hot baths, cold baths and massages.

Decumanus maximus of Herculaneum

The decumanus maximus is the most important and largest street you will see when visiting Herculaneum.

Here was overlooked by the main public buildings and connected the eastern and western parts of the city.

Along the decumanus maximus, you can see the numerous public fountains that adorned the city. Decorated with the figures of the main deities including: Neptune, Hercules, Minerva.

The houses to see in the archaeological excavations of Herculaneum

As mentioned above, the dynamics of the eruption that struck Herculaneum has allowed most of the houses that were brought to light during the excavations to be found intact. But above all has perfectly preserved the details of the houses themselves.

Such as the wooden partition door that you can see in the wooden partition house that has remained intact for centuries and is a symbol of Herculaneum and the eruption that struck the city.

The beautiful glass paste mosaic that was made in the house of Neptune and Amphitrite, owned by a wealthy merchant, depicting Neptune and Amphitrite.

Also among the most beautiful and important houses you can see in Herculaneum are:

• The house of the deer, so called because of the discovery at the entrance to the garden of two statues of deer bitten by two dogs. In ancient times the dwelling had a large terrace directly overlooking the sea.
• House of the black salon, one of the most luxurious in all of Herculaneum. So called because of the presence inside the domus of a salon frescoed completely in black.
• The house of the bicentenary, so called because it was found exactly two hundred years after the beginning of the excavations. It is one of the most famous houses you will see in Herculaneum because of its enormous façade on two levels along the decumanus maximus.
• The Samnite house, the oldest house in all of Herculaneum, important for the early style frescoes still perfectly visible at the entrance to the house.
• The house of the beautiful courtyard, which owes its name to the perfectly preserved courtyard of the house. In which the external staircase leading to the upper floor of the dwelling was found still intact.

Altri informazioni utili

• How to get to Herculaneum

  Come raggiungere comodamente Ercolano da Napoli o Pompei, con il treno o l’auto.

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• Herculaneum excavations: opening times, tickets, free Sundays

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• Herculaneum Archaeological Excavations: All Faq

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  La visita agli Scavi di Ercolano dura circa 2 o 3 ore.

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