That beach which overlooked the sea, where about three hundred fugitives failed to escape death during the eruption of 79 AD, has been eroded over the years by corrosion and rainwater.
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Today, however, it is reborn thanks to a recovery project implemented by the Archaeological Park of Ercolano, in a public-private partnership with the Packard Humanities Institute and with funding from CIS (Institutional Development Contract) Vesuvio.
Today, among numerous groups of tourists and visitors, the inauguration of a fundamental and strategic work of the Park is celebrated: the ancient beach of Herculaneum.
In the medium term, the reconnection of a stretch of beach with the Villa dei Papiri, to expand the tourist offer in the coming years. In recent times, the area has been subject to corrosion and degradation, caused by natural factors related to rainwater and rising water, which had transformed the beach into a swamp.
The works have returned an image as close as possible to the original one, prior to the eruption of 79 AD. From today, visitors can walk around the area and look out over the arches, where the skeletons of approximately 300 fugitives are found who, despite the civil protection operation directed by the Roman admiral and scholar Pliny the Elder, were unable to save themselves by sea.
“Herculaneum, Pompeii, Oplontis: we are working on many projects”, said the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano. “At this time, in the budget law, we have refinanced the excavations and there are active construction sites like never before, which are bringing to light new treasures, fueling the activity of scholars”.
Minister Sangiuliano: “There are many funded excavations”
He continued: “We firmly believe in all this: creating, connecting, strengthening this area, which UNESCO has also recognized as being of great value and which is one of the most important archaeological areas in the world. We are convinced that it will represent an opportunity for socio-economic development”.
A concept also reiterated by the mayor of Ercolano, Ciro Buonajuto: “Today the tourist offer of our city is increasing; the Archaeological Park is an extraordinary reality, a place that attracts visitors from all over the world”.
“It wasn't just a restoration job”, has explained Francis Sirano, director of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum, “but also a great deal of research. Representing a site in an open-air archaeological location also means being able to delve into scientific aspects: we carried out excavations and found remains and traces of the pyroclastic flows that hit the city in 79 AD, with materials of all kinds”.
The most significant discovery was that of the “last fugitive”
The most significant discovery was that of the “last fugitive”, which occurred in 2021: the skeleton of a man of about 40 years old who was probably trying to escape by sea, with a bag containing his most precious objects.
Article published on 19 June 2024 - 16:31
