Pompeii Museum Finally Reopens After 40 Years

The Pompeii museum, called the Antiquarium, which houses the artifacts of the most famous victim of a volcanic eruption in history, is now open to the public for the first time in 40 years.

Closed since 1980, it now reopens as a symbol of the resilience of the city itself, having survived not only Mount Vesuvius, but a WWII bombing campaign, an earthquake, and now, the economic hardships of the coronavirus pandemic. .

Located in the center of the ruins, which is the most visited archaeological site in the world, the Antiquarium it houses the relics of the Samnite / Roman city that perished under ash and fire in AD 79. C.

Opened in 1873, it contains casts made from the bodies of animals and humans that died, allowing the visitor an incredibly intimate connection to a period 2,000 years ago.

Along with the molds of its owners, there are articles of daily use such as kitchen utensils, glazed earthenware, bronze statues and the walls of the villas, both with frescoes and graffiti.

In a land of tourism, Pompeii is one of Italy’s top tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage site, but as it remained closed during the pandemic, archaeologists have still been working there, which even after all these decades still it is not completely excavated.

Recently, according to AP, The structure of a kind of fast food restaurant has been completely excavated and is helping archaeologists learn about the eating habits of ancient people in an area that is still famous for its food today, until the day of the destruction of Pompeii.

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The museum’s reopening is “a sign of great hope during a very difficult time,” Pompeii director Massimo Osanna has said for a long time. AP

Jim Fulcher, writing for The journey awaits you, It adds that not only will visitors be able to see the museum, but many of the most valuable artifacts in the collection will also be on display, often circulating abroad for special exhibits or remaining locked in a warehouse.

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Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the country, only residents of Pompeii’s Campagna region will be able to visit for now, as travel between regions is prohibited.

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