On the occasion of Liberation Day, the Herculaneum Archaeological Park opens its doors to all visitors with free admission. On April 25th, the site will be open during its usual opening hours (8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. – last admission at 6:00 p.m.), offering residents and tourists the opportunity to experience one of the Vesuvius UNESCO World Heritage sites on a day of celebration and collective remembrance.
Information and updates on ercolano.cultura.gov.it.
The following will be open regularly:
- the Boat Pavilion, which houses exceptional evidence of the profound connection between Herculaneum and the sea, including the military spear found on the ancient beach;
- the Antiquarium, a precious treasure chest of Roman daily life, with its ancient charred wood, remarkably preserved, and the famous Gold of Herculaneum, a symbol of the refinement of the ancient inhabitants.
The exhibition “From Eggs to Apples: The Civilization of Food and the Pleasures of the Table in Herculaneum” will also open on April 25th. Set in the monumental spaces of Villa Campolieto (Corso Resina 283, Herculaneum)—a splendid 18th-century residence on the Golden Mile, just steps from the site—the exhibition takes visitors on an immersive journey through the food culture of ancient Herculaneum. Extraordinarily preserved organic remains, tools, pottery, and everyday objects illustrate the habits of the ancient Herculaneum residents, in dialogue with the refined Vanvitellian architecture that frames the exhibition.
Exhibition hours: 9:00 – 19:00 (last admission 18:00)
Combined ticket Villa Campolieto + Exhibition: €7 full price
Online purchase: ercolano.cultura.gov.it/dalluovoallemele
Furthermore, the last available dates are approaching for VENI, VIDI, HERCVLANEVM, the Virtual Reality Experience that since February has transformed visits to the Herculaneum Archaeological Park into an immersive journey into the ancient city buried by the eruption of Vesuvius.
Thanks to this new experimental project, the past has never been so close to users who, thanks to 3D viewers, can virtually walk through the streets, buildings, and environments of Roman Herculaneum, with a completely new level of emotional and cognitive involvement. This is an innovative, engaging, and accessible initiative that allows visitors to enter ancient Herculaneum in an ideal way, exploring its spaces, reliving its atmosphere and details, and observing environments and architecture reconstructed in 3D as if they were right before their eyes.
Thanks to virtual reality, visitors can better understand the urban organization, buildings, and daily life of the ancient city.
To experience this “journey” at no additional cost (just purchase the entrance ticket), the last available dates are: April 27 and 29, 2026, and May 4, 2026.
The experience is accessible to all, with particular attention to those with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities. Specialized Park staff will accompany participants every step of the way, ensuring safety and full enjoyment.
Practical information
Available dates: April 27 – April 29 – May 4, 2026
Days: Monday and Wednesday
Hours: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Location: Park Visitor Center
Mode: 10-minute shifts, 2 stations for 2 visitors at the same time
Cost: free, included in the standard entrance ticket to the site
Reservation required
Online: ercolano.coopculture.it
Call center: +39 081 0106490 (Mon-Sat, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
Limited places Advance booking is recommended.
