The excavations of Pompeii and Torre Annunziata between frescoes and new discoveries

The opening to the public of the extension excavation of the Villa of Poppea, which took place a few hours ago, is yet another gift for archaeology enthusiasts. In the house attributed to Nero's second wife at the Oplontis site in Torre Annunziata, in fact, one can admire stage masks, peacocks with lively plumage that have preserved their entire personality thanks to the thick layers of ash and lapilli. Tree footprints are also clearly recognisable. Accompanied by Park staff, one feels the pleasure of entering the heart of this restoration site and coming face to face with the splendid frescoes in the Hall of the Mask and the Peacock, even spotting a character from the Atellana Comedy. The excavation brought to light four more new rooms in addition to the 99 already known. The artistic gem of this archaeological park is still Pompeii, where in February the tourist presence is more contained, especially on weekdays, so the Villa of the Mysteries, the streets and villas from the Roman period such as the Villa of the Faun, the Vettii, the House of the Tragic Poet, the House of Menander, the amphitheatre, the sanctuary of Apollo, the Temple of Jupiter and Venus can all be enjoyed at their best. While in the 19th-century Casina dell'Aquila, inside the Chora restaurant, the only one allowed inside the excavations, you can taste dishes prepared with products grown on the archaeological site by the young people of the Il Tulipano cooperative.