Ercolano

Ercolano is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, southern Italy. It lies on the Bay of Naples, near the city of Naples, and is part of the urban area surrounding the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum.

The modern municipality contains the archaeological site of Herculaneum, one of the best-preserved ancient towns buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The ruins are notable for well-preserved houses, mosaic floors and artefacts that shed light on daily life in a Roman resort town.

In 1997, the Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing the outstanding universal value of the ancient sites and their preservation.

The municipality has around 50,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Circumvesuviana railway, with the Ercolano Scavi station providing direct access to the Herculaneum ruins and connecting residents to the greater Naples area.