If you are on the Amalfi Coast and want to discover the history of this magnificent region, you can not miss the archaeological site of Herculaneum! A truly pleasant excursion, all in the name of culture.
To reach Herculaneum from Amalfi Coast by public transport, You must reach Sorrento (with a SITA bus) and from there, You will arrive at the station of the local Circumvesuviana railway, where approximately every half hour train leaves for Naples which stops at the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
The Lost City of Herculaneum
The history of Herculaneum is extremely fascinating: in 79 AD, the violent eruption of Vesuvius destroyed irremediably everything that was in the vicinity of the volcano, covering the Roman cities on the slopes of Vesuvius with mud, lava and lapilli.
The history of Herculaneum, however, is different from that of nearby Pompeii: Herculanum was devastated almost twelve hours later than Pompeii and covered by a lava layer over 18 meters high. Following the destruction, Herculaneum was rebuilt in a short time around the ruins and the Roman city was forgotten for centuries. Only in the eighteenth century, during the works for the creation of a shaft, were found objects from the Roman era: For this reason began the excavation work that brought to light the wonders of the ancient city and that still continue today, gradually revealing the secrets of the incredible lost city.
Among the wonders found in Herculaneum there are frescoes and mosaics, statues, shopping centers and villas; in particular, several buildings have, in an excellent state of preservation, even the second floor, thing that does not happen to Pompeii. In addition to the archaeological area, you can visit the pavilion of the boat of Herculaneum, the only found under the lava in the ancient port of the city. According to historical reconstruction, this ship was the only one on the coast not to sail on that day of panic, probably due to a leak. All the others, with the survivors of Herculaneum on board, sailed to safety. Although the period is not the best, the director of the archaeological park of Ercolano, Francesco Sirano, in an interview with the Touring Club reveals that:
“The usability of physical spaces for all is accompanied by another project: the Digital Museum of the Ancient Herculaneum, accessible through an Open Data platform developed with the Packard Humanities Institute.It will allow enthusiasts and scholars to remotely visit the buildings of the ancient city with their decorative equipment and in association with the rich mobile heritage of its inhabitants: furniture, tools of everyday life, luxury goods…”.
Before returning to the Amalfi Coast you can also visit the Crater of Vesuvius, easily accessible by shuttle “Vesuvio Express” departing every 40 minutes.
