Herculaneum, after 30 years reopens the Bicentennial House, one of the city's most valuable ancient mansions

After more than 30 years of closure, starting Oct. 24 the public will once again be able to visit Herculaneum’s Bicentennial House, one of the best-preserved ancient Roman mansions in the Campania city. In fact, the Cantiere open project will open to visitors the doors of some rooms of this residence, one of the most valuable sites in the Herculaneum Archaeological Park.

Called the “bicentennial house” because it was brought to light by archaeologist Amedeo Mauri in 1938, exactly two hundred years after the first survey of the ancient city (dating back to 1738, the year in which the first map of Herculaneum buried, like Pompeii, by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD was also published), it is a sumptuous six-hundred-square-meter dwelling located along the city’s decumanus maximus. Inside it is richly decorated: there are precious mosaics, decorative architectural elements, and even frescoes with mythological scenes.

The October 24 reopening will be preceded by an official ceremony the day before: Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini, Herculaneum Archaeological Park director Francesco Sirano, Great Pompeii Project director general Mauro Cipolletta, Pompeii Archaeological Park director Massimo Osanna, Packard Cultural Heritage Institute president Michele Barbieri, Herculaneum Conservation Project manager Jane Thompson, and restorer Leslie Rainer of the Getty Conservation Institute, as well as city authorities starting with Mayor Ciro Buonajuto, will be present.

Pictured is the facade of the Bicentennial House. Ph. Credit

Herculaneum, after 30 years reopens the Bicentennial House, one of the city's most valuable ancient mansions

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