Stage masks, brightly colored peacock figures, tree impressions preserved by lapilli, and refined new spaces: the new excavation underway at Villa Poppea, the Neronian-era residence at Oplontis near Torre Annunziata, is revealing images of extraordinary beauty. The work focuses in particular on the Hall of the Mask and the Peacock, one of the villa's most elegant rooms, decorated in the so-called Second Pompeian Style.
This very room – until now known only for its theatrical mask and the figure of a peacock – is being revealed in all its graphic and symbolic complexity, with frescoes that combine theatrical elements and garden settings.
The construction site areas will be open to visitors from February 12th
Starting Thursday, February 12th, every week from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, the public will be able to access parts of the construction site directly from the Oplontis site, upon presentation of a standard Villa Poppea entrance ticket. Tours will be limited to 10 people per session, and will be guided by staff from the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
The aim is to offer a "live" experience of the excavation and restoration, allowing visitors to observe the delicate operations of consolidating and cleaning the frescoes, as well as the arrangement of the archaeological structures.
Clarify the villa and relaunch the urban context
The new project, begun on February 6, 2026, stems from a need for understanding and preservation: clarifying the structure of the western sector of the villa, which borders the urban stretch of Via dei Sepolcri, and resolving several conservation issues. However, the project is also intended as an opportunity to enhance the archaeological and urban context of Oplontis.
The new campaigns are designed to create a direct connection with the nearby Spolellificio Borbonico. In the coming years, new museum spaces, warehouses, and additional services will be built in the 19th-century industrial area, which will be able to interact with the large Villa Poppea complex and the city of Torre Annunziata.
A peahen, a mask and elements of Atellan Comedy
Among the first discoveries of particular note is a complete figure of a peahen, a perfect mirror image of the male peacock already found on the southern portion of the same wall. This symmetry confirms the care taken in the decorative design and the symbolic richness attributed to these animals in the Roman domestic world.
Fragments of stage masks also emerge, including one attributable to a character from the Atellan Comedy, unlike the other theatrical masks in the room, which until now had been attributed to Tragedy. This novelty suggests a refined interplay between theatrical genres in the decoration of the hall.
Imprints of trees and gardens in their original position
Thanks to the cast technique, the excavation also revealed the imprints of trees that adorn the garden adjacent to the villa. The trunks were identified in their original positions, inserted into a precise ornamental pattern that duplicated the colonnade of the southern portico.
The scheme recalls solutions documented in other Pompeian domus and in the Oplontis site itself, confirming the continuity of a decorative tradition capable of integrating green spaces, architecture and paintings.
Four new rooms and a thermal room
The new investigations have identified four previously undiscovered rooms, adding to the villa's 99 known rooms. Among these, an apse-shaped room stands out, which, due to its location and characteristics, appears to belong to the domus's baths.
The discovery helps complete the functional picture of the complex, confirming the presence of an area dedicated to baths and recreation, in addition to the extensive pictorial decoration.
Restoration of a cubicle with stucco and Egyptian blue
In parallel with the excavation work, a restoration project is underway on two small and precious rooms, originally intended as rest areas: the cubicula that overlook the south-western side of the villa, right next to the other intervention.
The richness of the finishes is striking: elaborate stucco, frescoed walls, painted vaults, and floor mosaics of extraordinary craftsmanship. The palette of pigments used is particularly broad, including the precious Egyptian blue, indicative of a client willing to invest in high-quality materials and of the extremely high technical expertise of the craftsmen.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
The article describes the discoveries made at Villa Poppea well, but many things remain unclear. For example, how will they manage visitors? And will there be further excavations in the future? It's important for people to know.