The exhibition
Herculaneum. The Art of Living will be hosted in the breathtaking setting of Castel Sant’Angelo until October 18.
This event offers a unique opportunity to discover the authentic heart of the ancient Vesuvian city. Featuring extraordinary artifacts from the storerooms of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park—rarely displayed to the public—the exhibition showcases the daily life of a community frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Curated by Massimo Osanna, Federica Colaiacomo, Luca Mercuri, and Francesco Sirano, the display seamlessly blends scientific research, technology, and visual storytelling across several captivating sections:
- The Wunderkammer: the tour begins with a spectacular “cabinet of curiosities” featuring 42 exceptional artifacts, including statues, frescoes, jewelry, and everyday items.
- The Eruption and the Grand Tour: an immersive room with audiovisual content, prints, and paintings brings the tragic eruption to life while tracing how Mount Vesuvius captured the European imagination during the Grand Tour era.
- Shops and Thermopolia: step into the vibrant commercial life of Herculaneum through multimedia installations and ancient street-food venues.
- The Domus and the Table: a detailed look into domestic life, cookware, and rare organic remains. Highlights include the famous carbonized loaf of bread, preserved for nearly two millennia alongside ancient grains, legumes, and tableware.
- Wine and Banquets: a dedicated section explores Falernian wine, the celebrated Roman vintage praised by Pliny the Elder. The journey concludes in the banquet hall, displaying silver vessels, a sun dial used to time meals, and the evocative larva convivialis—a small skeleton motif reminding guests to embrace carpe diem.
The surge of heat and ash that engulfed Herculaneum in 79 AD sealed homes, artifacts, and food in extraordinary condition, turning a tragedy into an invaluable source of historical knowledge. Through this exhibition, visitors can rediscover the daily routines of its ancient inhabitants and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of a city that still tells its story today.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to admire the wonders of ancient Herculaneum and book your stay in Rome at 47 Boutique Hotel.
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