Herculano

Herculano, also known as Herculaneum in English and Ercolano in Italian, is a town and archaeological site in the Campania region of southern Italy. It lies on the coast opposite Naples, near Mount Vesuvius, and is part of the metropolitan area of Naples. The site preserves the remains of the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum, buried under volcanic ash and pyroclastic surges during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE. The city was a resort and commercial center for wealthy Romans and was smaller but wealthier than Pompeii.

During the eruption, heavy tephra and gas preserved wood, fabrics, foods, and organic materials, contributing to exceptional preservation for some structures. Excavations began in the 18th century and have revealed well-preserved houses, mosaics, frescoes, and the famed Villa of the Papyri, with a substantial library of carbonized scrolls. The site offers insights into domestic architecture, daily life, and the social stratification of late Republic society.

Herculaneum is now part of the Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The modern town, with the Herculaneum Archaeological Park, preserves portions of the ancient city beneath and around modern buildings. Access is by road or rail from Naples, with the ruins located at Ercolano Scavi railway station and the Scavi entrance adjacent to the harbor.