On May 20th, students will be protagonists in the valorization of cultural heritage.
The final day of the Work-Based Training Program, promoted by the Ercolano Archaeological Park in collaboration with schools in the Vesuvian area, will be held on Wednesday, May 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the halls of Villa Campolieto. This event is dedicated to publicly presenting the results of the training programs developed during the 2025-2026 school year, through concrete experiences of study, research, documentation, reception, restoration, and promotion of cultural heritage.
The initiative will involve students, teachers, tutors, and professionals involved in various projects, hosted in the prestigious setting of the Vesuvian villa on the Miglio d’Oro, today a symbolic place of dialogue between education, culture, and the local area.
The morning will begin with institutional greetings from the director of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park, Federica Colaiacomo, along with the head teachers of the schools involved: the “Adriano Tilgher” High School of Herculaneum, the “Gaetano De Bottis” High School of Torre del Greco, the “Rocco Scotellaro” High School of San Giorgio a Cremano, the “Eugenio Pantaleo” High School of Torre del Greco, and the “Francesco Saverio Nitti” High School of Portici.
During the morning, the final projects developed by students across the various project paths will be presented: from three-dimensional surveys and the digitization of the archaeological heritage using 3D scanners and Matterport technology to the mapping of the archaeological site’s wireless infrastructure; from reception, audience development, and cultural mediation activities to the production of brochures, documentary films, photo reports, interviews, and video stories dedicated to the educational experience within the Park.
Significant space will also be dedicated to restoration and documentation projects for archaeological finds, through in-depth studies of conservation, photogrammetry, and digital cataloging techniques developed with industry professionals and visits to restoration sites. Students will present artwork, multimedia creations, and narrative journeys born from direct observation and study of the heritage of ancient Herculaneum.
“For the Park, the School-Work Training Programs represent a concrete investment in the new generations and their relationship with cultural heritage,” says Federica Colaiacomo. “Through these experiences, students become active participants in processes of knowledge, protection, and valorization, developing professional skills as well as a deeper civic and cultural awareness. Dialogue between schools, institutions, and the local community is a fundamental key to building the future of cultural sites.”
At the end of the event, students will take a guided tour of the exhibition “From Eggs to Apples: The Civilization of Food and the Pleasures of the Table in Herculaneum,” held in the frescoed rooms of Villa Campolieto. The exhibition, dedicated to the eating habits of ancient Herculaneum, takes visitors on an immersive journey through charred organic artifacts, archaeology, and food culture in the Roman world.
The initiative confirms the Ercolano Archaeological Park’s commitment to promoting innovative educational programs that connect cultural heritage with the education of new generations, enhancing interdisciplinary skills and encouraging increasingly informed participation in the area’s cultural life.
