Ercolano, located in the Campania region of Italy, is a city that combines an interesting heritage of antiquity. Situated at the foot of Vesuvius, Ercolano is famous for the perfectly preserved ruins of the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, which makes it very important to history buffs. Visiting Herculaneum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is like traveling back in time.
Walking through the extremely well-preserved buildings, streets and houses, you can admire the carefully crafted frescoes and mosaics that still decorate the walls. Particularly impressive are the well-preserved parts of Herculaneum, such as the Roman baths and the House of Neptune and Amphitrites.
The houses of ancient herculaneum refer to the residential structures, casas, apartments, and villas, in the Roman city of Herculaneum. The houses of ancient Herculaneum offer a fascinating window into the domestic lives of the town’s affluent residents. Nestled along the coast of the Bay of Naples, Herculaneum was a prosperous Roman town that attracted wealthy citizens who built lavish homes reflecting their status and tastes.
Organized tourist trips:
- Mount Vesuvius: Hike the historic volcano, learn about the eruption of 79 AD. and visit preserved Roman cities.
- Herculaneum: Explore the ruins of an ancient Roman city and learn about its history
Sightseeing:
- House of Neptune and Amphitrite
Among the many houses in Herculaneum is a relatively small, but richly decorated town house, called the House of the Neptune Mosaic, which must have belonged to a wealthy family. It’s located in Insula V, Cardo IV of the city.
- House of Aristides
The House of Aristides is the first house, on the left, located on the Cardo III. The house was mistakenly named after the statue of an Athenian politician, found during excavations, while it was later discovered to belong to the Attic orator Aeschines.
- House of Argus
The House of Argus derives its name from a fresco representing the myth of Argus and Io found in a reception room that opened onto the large peristyle. According to mythology, Argus, Hera’s servant, was charged with guarding the white heifer Io from Zeus, keeping her chained to the sacred olive tree at the Argive Heraion.
- House Genius
The House of Genius is located near the north end of Insula II on the west side of Cardo III. The house derives its name from the small statue of a winged genius or guardian spirit that decorated a candlestick found in the building. Along with the neighbouring houses in the insula, the House of the Genius was among the first to be openly excavated; between 1828 and 1850 CE.
- Baths
The Central Baths at Herculaneum were laid out around the beginning of the 1st century CE and were divided into separate (larger) men’s and (smaller) women facilities, each with their sequence of changing room (apodyterium), warm room (tepidarium) and hot room (caldarium).
Herculaneum’s Suburban Baths are believed to have been built by Proconsul M. Nonius Balbus as a gift to the town, suggested by the statue and memorial to him situated in the building’s front terrace. The baths survived the eruption of Vesuvius exceptionally well, largely as a result of its construction.
