ERCOLANO


A Roman villa


The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. which buried the city of Pompei also swept over this elegant Roman town, covering it with mud and lava. Unlike Pompei, however, here woodwork and furniture were preserved, so that the finds from the long excavations are extremely interesting for the information they give on the art, customs and way of life of the ancient Romans. Sculptures, paintings, vases and other valuable articles excavated are now in the Museo Nazionale in Naples, and there is also a small museum on the site.