Visitors to southern Italy are in for a treat, with a new evening exhibition now showing at the ancient city of Pompeii.  Pompeii: Un’ Emozione Notturna is running from August 5 to September 27, attracting locals and tourists alike to enjoy the special night tour.   Like never before, visitors can tour the preserved Roman city and experience the merging of history, culture, and art. 

Reservations must be made in advance for the small group tour (limited to 40 people), with staggered entry times to ensure an intimate experience. On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings, groups depart every 20 minutes, with an English speaking tour at 8pm.  Tickets cost 16 euro and children under 14 years are admitted free of charge. 

The event, produced by Scabec (Campania’s Cultural Society), in collaboration with the Superintendency for the Archeological Heritage of Pompeii, commences in the anfiteatro (ampitheatre), with a showcase of body casts and photographs.  The temporary exhibition “Pompeii and Europe 1748-1943” displays casts of the city’s residents at the last moment of life. Housed in a wooden pyramid designed by architect Fraringncesco Venezia, the exhibit also includes photographs from the first excavations at the site.

The tour proceeds next to Vigne del foro Boario,  the on site vineyards, where visitors are invited to a wine tasting.  The illuminated route continues to Casa del Menandro, one of the town’s largest and most luxurious residences.  Normally closed to day tours, the estate takes its name from the bold yellow and red fresco depicting the ancient Greek dramatist Menander.   Undoubtedly a noble residence, the villa houses well preserved frescoes, intricate mosaics, and its own private terme (thermal baths), all centered around a large courtyard.

The tour concludes in the Odeion, the small but well preserved theater, with a romantic display of lights and music.  The experience is emotional, powerful, and allows visitors to envision what life was like as an ancient Roman.  As you sip their wine, stroll through their gardens, and enter their homes, you will see that this is much more than your average archaeological site visit.