Archaeological Park of Herculaneum
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About Archaeological Park of Herculaneum
Get the inside scoop on Archaeological Park of Herculaneum from local experts, travel creators, and tastemakers. Browse genuine trip notes, Archaeological Park of Herculaneum reviews, photos, travel guides, and itineraries from real travelers and plan your trip with confidence.
What people say
Bridget Perry
Available for hire
"Everyone knows of the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius and how it buried the sprawling city of Pompeii -- but did you know there was another town buried and lost?
Ercolano (aka Herculaneum) was a small seaside town on the coast that was also buried during the eruption.
Why go to Ercolano?
- It's closer to Naples than Pompeii.
- It's significantly smaller and easy to explore in one day.
- More tile work, paintings, and complete structures.
Pompei was hit by pumice rain (large falling rock) and then buried in pyroclastic flow (a flood of hot ash & rock).
Ercolano was only hit with the pyroclastic flow meaning it was spared much of the structural damage Pompeii suffered before being buried and preserved.
This is a small enough site that it is fun to explore independently. Kids will enjoy going around the town and it can easily be seen in a few hours.
Tips:
If going in the summer bring sunscreen and water! There were some snack and souvenir stands outside the park and we invested in a few handheld painted fans that saved us from the heat and made a nice souvenir."
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Kaitlyn Alsup
"Tragedy struck in the year 79 AD when Vesuvius erupted in explosive fashion, burying the cities under ash. The plight of Pompeii froze the city in time, providing an extraordinary glimpse into what Roman life was like. Herculaneum was impacted by the volcano differently leading to amazing preservation (there are also lower crowds)."
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Danielle Cohen
Available for hire
"Just 11 km south of Naples is the archeological site, Herculaneum. Nearly 2,000 years ago, when Mt. Vesuvius famously erupted and destroyed Pompeii, Herculaneum was also destroyed. While it doesn’t have the same name recognition as Pompeii, it is just as interesting to discover and learn about. "
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