Mercury Tower is located in the section of the wall between Herculaneum Gate and Vesuvius Gate, exactly in regio VI, at the highest point of the old city of Pompeii.
After, several restoration and enhancement works, the tower of Mercury was reopened to the public on December 23, 2022.
Access to the tower allows visitors to admire ancient Pompeii from its highest point. Thus opening a new and never before seen perspective of the ancient city.
Entrance to the Tower is allowed to limited groups of no more than 20 people at a time.
Mercury Tower is one of the few towers that has preserved its integrity. Built on three levels, it has a large crenellated terrace. That was used in ancient times by patrols to watch the city from above.
The towers, in fact, were ancient observation points, built by the ancient Pompeians along the city walls, to improve the control of the city and allow greater protection of it.
They were built after the various invasions that affected the city. These included the siege of the city of Pompeii that took place at the hands of Sulla’s Army.
There are still clearly visible signs of this siege along the city walls. In fact, in the stretch of wall between Herculaneum Gate and Vesuvius Gate it is possible to see the marks of the projectiles launched by the catapults of Sulla’s Army during the siege of the city of Pompeii.
The opening of the Tower of Mercury, is a unique event that opens the possibility of being able to admire Pompeii from a vantage point.
