Ancient beach unveiled at Herculaneum after three-year restoration

After nearly two thousand years since Mount Vesuvius's eruption, a unique site in Italy's Herculaneum has been reopened to tourists. "This was not just a restoration but also a great research endeavour," admitted Francesco Sirano, director of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park, as quoted by CNN.

Herculaneum is a city in Campania located near Mount Vesuvius. On 24 August, AD 79, it was completely destroyed along with Pompeii and Stabiae when the volcano erupted. Over 300 people attempted to take shelter there during the eruption, but most did not survive.

Although archaeological work continues in many historical cities around Mount Vesuvius, they are open to tourists. Travellers eagerly visit the areas of Pompeii and Herculaneum not only for the ruins of houses and temples. They also stroll through the grounds of Vesuvius National Park, which features numerous hiking trails leading to the crater's summit. The area has been enriched with a new, interesting site for tourists.

An ancient beach has been opened in Herculaneum. Attending the opening ceremony, Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano emphasised that the restoration of this site aims, among other things, to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of ancient Roman history and to revitalise the region's cultural heritage.

"We have secured funding in the budget for further excavations, which are uncovering new treasures and attracting researchers from around the world. We believe that this area, recognised by UNESCO as a site of great value, has significant potential for socio-economic development of the region," said Gennaro Sangiuliano, as quoted by CNN.

It is worth noting that the new attraction is not a typical beach intended for sunbathing and water sports. It is a site designed for walks on black volcanic sand.

Work on making the ancient beach accessible to tourists lasted three years, but archaeologists had been active in the area much earlier. "This was not just a restoration, but also a great research endeavour," said Francesco Sirano, as quoted by CNN.

Human remains found there were discovered during excavations in the 1980s and 1990s. Skeletons were found both in stone hangars and on the beach itself. One of the most spectacular discoveries was made in 2021 when the skeleton of a man about 40 years old was found.