Our second day in the Pompeii area was busy! In the morning we climbed to the top of Mount Vesuvius and in the afternoon we explored the destroyed city of Herculaneum.

Mount Vesuvius – We hiked the one mile trail to the rim of the volcano. The walk was a bit crowded in spots because of the bus loads of tourists that visited the mountain that morning. We could easily see the Gulf of Naples from the summit and the still-active volcano was quiet during our visit. Whew! The last eruption occurred in 1944.

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Herculaneum – Many people are familiar with the destruction of Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Fewer know that the same disaster also buried the city of Herculaneum, named after the mythical Greet god Hercules. The houses, shops, restaurants, taverns, verandas, and baths were buried under about 20 meters of volcanic rock and mud which sealed off the entire city. As a result, many of the buildings were preserved much more intact than Pompeii structures and archeologists even discovered some original timber roofs. Excavation continues today as only about 20% of the ancient town has been uncovered. Much of Herculaneum remains buried beneath the current city of Ercolano. We spent several hours exploring the well-preserved buildings with beautiful artwork and architectural details. 

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Collegio delgi Augustales – The assembly place where Roman officials made religious, government, political, and social decisions featured colorful 1st century frescoes. We watched a conservator, perched up on scaffolding, clean a fresco in the same room as the paintings pictured below. 

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Casa di Nettuno e Anfitrite – This modest-sized house of 227 square meters includes some of the best preserved mosaics in Herculaneum. And while walking through the rooms we definitely noticed the intricate details and colors in the extensive artwork. Historians believe that the wealthy homeowner intentionally displayed his social standing in the layout and decor.

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Central Baths – During the first century bath houses were popular and a cultural hub in cities such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. We especially liked the marble pool, marble benches, and nautical floor designs in the men’s and women’s bath areas in this coastal city.

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Casa dello Scheletro – Ever since researchers discovered a skeleton in one of the upper rooms, this home has been called the “House of Skeleton.” It is one of the first houses excavated in Herculaneum using more sophisticated techniques and features five styles of mosaic flooring plus mythically-themed and very colorful wall mosaics. We took more photos of the bright blue wall artwork with sea shells than the creative floors.

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Casa Sannitica – One of the oldest buildings in the city, this house dates back to the 2nd century BC. The Samnite House, as it is called in English, includes first and second floors with original wood. Our favorite part of the house was the geometric mosaic floor.

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More Discovered Beauty

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Skeletons – Archeologists found 55 skeletons in boat sheds near the beach. They estimate that the eruption’s intense heat of over 900 degrees Fahrenheit and toxic gases instantly killed Herculaneum residents. We saw skeletal remains with contracted hands and feet, as well as rib cages that look melted. 

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