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Inclusions
Pompeii
Herculaneum
2 starting points available
17 kms
45 mins
1
Herculaneum
1 attractions
Tickets included
Follow an expert guide as you marvel at the ingenuity of the Central Baths, learn about an imperial cult at the Hall of the Augustals, and more!
House of the Relief of Telephus
This three-storey mansion was once laden with marble walls and a panoramic terrace.
17 kms
45 mins
2
Pompeii Archaeological Park
Easily travel between two sister cities that tell the tale of Vesuvian wrath and primeval urbanity!
Easily travel between two sister cities that tell the tale of Vesuvian wrath and primeval urbanity!
Inclusions
Inclusions
Inclusions
Inclusions
Same, but not quite. Here's what unites and differentiates these two ancient sites.
Vis-a-vis Mount Vesuvius, the rai·son d'ê·tre of Herculaneum and Pompeii’s posthumous fame, Herculaneum is situated closer to the volcano than Pompeii. Situated on the western foothills of the mountain, it is just 13 km away from the mountain.
Pompeii is located on the south-eastern base of Vesuvius, about 27 km away. Their respective locations were crucial determinants of the type of destruction both cities underwent in 79 AD.
Visit Mount VesuviusVesuvius exploded in two phases. In phase 1, a big cloud of ash, gas and pumice stones were ejected into the air, and sped south-east towards Pompeii. The town was badly affected by this outpouring of volcanic material.
Largely spared from phase 1, Herculaneum was badly hit in phase 2 of the eruption, when the pyroclastic surges began. Here, the suspended cloud of ash, rock and gas could no longer contain its weight, leading its contents to flow down the sides of the mountain and speed towards Herculaneum.
Read more about Herculaneum and VesuviusPompeii experienced the first half of Vesuvius’ wrath, where it rained ash and volcanic debris, collapsing roofs, columns and other structures. Massive rocks fell from the sky, obliterating buildings and people. By the time Vesuvius’ rage abated, several parts of Pompeii were buried under 10 m or more of ash.
Herculaneum’s fate was slightly different but perhaps more lethal: it suffered from the pyroclastic flows. The intense heat generated by these flows trapped roads, buildings and public monuments in a bubble, expelling air and inducing a vacuum. At certain points, Herculaneum was entombed under 75 ft of volcanic material.
In Herculaneum, the main cause of death was the pyroclastic surge — which is the collapse of the air column containing volcanic material. These flows engulfed Herculaneum and baked its citizens alive due to the scorching heat — leaching the bones of their organic matter and leaving only skeletons behind.
Researchers now believe that Pompeii’s residents breathed their last in less than 15 minutes, with their primary cause of death being asphyxiation and choking on volcanic gases (and not lava flows).
Discovery of Herculaneum bodiesIt was easier to excavate Pompeii as it was coated with a much shallower layer of ash when compared to Herculaneum. But this also meant that with the exception of a few preserved eggs and loaves of bread, organic matter was destroyed in Pompeii. The ash coating also couldn’t protect frescoes and statues from the elements for too long.
In Herculaneum, the heat effectively baked objects in place, even carbonizing organic remains like wood, food, cloth, paper and human waste. Luxurious villas were still in great shape when dug up, with two and three-storeyed houses still more or less intact (a sight unseen in Pompeii).
Around 44 hectares acres i.e. two-thirds of Pompeii have been excavated and open to the public. However, close to 22 hectares still remain unexplored, and many archeologists are leaving this for future generations to tackle with better technology.
In contrast, only about an acre or so of Herculaneum has been fully exposed to the public, which means over 75% still lies hidden. New excavations are carried out haltingly as present-day Ercolano and the neighboring town of Portici have built settlements over Herculaneum, and subterranean digging would require the demolition of these current dwellings.
Now that you’ve gained context on the two towns, here are your ticket options to visit them both.
Suited for: Those on a budget
Duration: Flexible
Recommended ticket
Suited for: History buffs
Duration: 5-8 hours
Recommended ticket
From Pompeii/Naples: Pompeii & Herculaneum Guided Tour with Archaeologist
Suited for: Families, elderly tourists
Duration: 5-8 hours
Recommended ticket
From Pompeii/Naples: Pompeii, Herculaneum & Vesuvius Day Trip
Travel Time: Roughly 45 minutes
Duration: 19 minutes
Both offer unique insights into ancient Roman life, and one isn’t necessarily ‘better’ than the other per se. Herculaneum’s ruins are better preserved, offering an intimate insight into luxurious lives well-lived until they abruptly came to a halt. It almost feels like the residents would return to their still-standing houses. In contrast, Pompeii’s destruction is more evident — most houses have lost their second and third floors, frescoes and statues have faded over the course of time, and human casts showcase the victims’ last moments of agony and helplessness. Both equally paint a picture of preserved, ongoing loss that is haunting.
It’s interesting to note the differences and similarities in how the Vesuvius eruption played out for both Pompeii and Herculaneum. While both were undeniably destroyed and never reconstituted, the nature of preservation is vastly different in both. Seeing these sites together helps us get a better picture of the aftermath of a volcanic episode and understand its many facets.
Pompeii is touted to be the more renowned of the two ruins since a lot more of the ancient site has been excavated than its neighbor Herculaneum. Pompeii, in general, was also known for its controversial alliances with violence, sex and sensation. In contrast, Herculaneum appeared more sober and laidback. However, recent impetus on Herculaneum studies has boosted awareness and intrigue behind this site as well.
Herculaneum is about 20 minutes away from Pompeii, and it takes just about 20-30 minutes by road to get from one site to another. From the Pompeii Scavi train station, you can also ride a train to the Ercolano Scavi station and back.
That depends on your ticket and the time available. A basic entry ticket gives you the flexibility of visiting the sites either on separate dates or on the same day. However, no guide will accompany you on this tour. If you book a day trip, you can see Pompeii, Herculaneum and even Vesuvius (if you so choose) on the same day. Although this itinerary would be more packed, you will benefit from having transport facilities and an expert tour guide.
Yes, children are likely to be fascinated by the ruins and peeling frescoes. It’s a good idea to prep them beforehand by introducing them to books like Digging up the Past: Pompeii and Herculaneum by Peter Hicks or Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Pope Osborne. They are even likely to enjoy the audio guides. However, seeing human casts at Pompeii or skeletal remains at Herculaneum might be distressing to them, so if they’re sensitive, it’s best to avoid visiting those exhibits.