Captivating and eerie yet hauntingly beautiful, this ancient Italian city is frozen in time — and it really is fascinating to visit
Italy never fails to enthral me with its ancient buildings and streets, many of which have stood the test of time. Then there are the breath-taking views, whether it’s the countryside, the sea, or even volcanoes – Italy truly has it all – not to mention the mouth-watering food.
While holidaying in Sorrento, I found it easy to hop on a train to several other Italian destinations. One such stop was Ercolano Scavi, the gateway to an eerie yet intriguing place.
The train route from Sorrento towards Naples passes through Herculaneum (modern name: Ercolano), a site where a tragic event preserved a significant piece of history. Some 2,000 years ago, Herculaneum was a prosperous city, but in 79 AD, the Mount Vesuvius volcano that towers over this area erupted, burying the ancient Roman city under fast-flowing lava.
Mount Vesuvius is a daunting sight in this part of Italy, visible from both Sorrento and Naples, but it looms ominously over Ercolano, serving as a stark reminder of the potential devastation it could wreak, even today.
Its last eruption occurred on March 17, 1944, claiming the lives of 26 civilians, lending an eerie atmosphere to this part of Italy, despite trips and hikes to the top of Mount Vesuvius being offered to tourists, reports the Express.
I chose to stay below the volcano to focus on exploring Herculaneum, where 2,000 years ago, volcanic ash and rock engulfed everything – and everyone alive at the time.
But despite the fear and tragedy that struck at that time – and can be felt as you wander around the now uncovered and preserved streets and buildings of Herculaneum – it was the volcanic lava that preserved this Roman city.
From drinking troughs to mosaics, walls and statues, even bread in ancient stone ovens, it was fascinating to see how creative and systematic the people who lived here were at the time.
The mosaics and murals were so detailed and colourful, I observed that this ancient civilisation took pride in their surroundings, which arguably may not always be the case in modern times.
It was a few years ago that I visited Herculaneum, and since then, archaeologists have uncovered more of the ancient Roman city, including skeletal remains.
A recent Google reviewer wrote about what they saw: “What a brilliant place, so well preserved, fascinating architecture and history.
“Seeing the bodies of the poor souls who got trapped is quite a distressing thing to witness, completely different from the disconnect of a picture online, you can, unfortunately, see the terror in their faces.
“Sad part aside, a brilliant place to explore and learn from, the boat they recovered is amazing, as are all of the personal effects going within the town.”
Another recent Google review states: “Herculaneum is absolutely mind-blowing. Smaller and less crowded than Pompeii, but in many ways even more impressive. The level of preservation here is unreal – second stories still standing, wooden doors, roof beams, furniture, even food remnants. It’s like the eruption happened yesterday.
“We did a private tour with an archaeologist who helped bring it all to life – explaining how this seaside town functioned before the eruption and why it was preserved so differently from Pompeii. The contrast between the two sites is fascinating.
“It’s more compact than Pompeii, but every corner is packed with detail and history. And the best part – it’s not swarming with tourists, so you can really take your time and soak it all in.
“Don’t skip this one, Herculaneum is a must. Quiet, powerful, and unforgettable.”