Cultural
Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata
Pompéi
Inscribed 1997
Photo : Cristina Menegazzi (CC BY-SA 3.0 igo)
Situated in the Campania region of southern Italy, this archaeological ensemble encompasses three sites buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD: Pompei, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata. The volcanic ash and pumice preserved these Roman settlements in a state that allows for exceptional documentation of daily life, urban planning, architecture, and social structures of the 1st century. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 in recognition of its outstanding universal value as a window into Roman civilization at a specific historical moment. The excavated areas reveal multiple building types including residences, public structures, temples, and commercial establishments, along with artifacts ranging from domestic objects to elaborate frescoes and mosaics. The exceptional preservation conditions have provided archaeologists with unique opportunities to study Roman society, from the wealthy elite to enslaved populations, making these sites invaluable for understanding ancient urban life. The three locations together form a comprehensive archaeological landscape that documents the material culture and settlement patterns of the Roman period before the catastrophic natural disaster.
Location
Pompéi
Inscription
1997
