From the 9th June new routes will be available at POMPEII with new openings and two different ticketed time slots
VILLA REGINA reopens on the 10th June with ticketed time slots and an admission fee of €2
Two weeks after reopening, the site of Pompeii now prepares to welcome visitors with a wider range of visit formats, new and ever greener routes, and two differentially ticketed time slots.
In full compliance with all relevant health regulations as detailed by the Ministry of Health, from the 9th June it will be possible to access the site from the two entrances of Porta Marina and Piazza Anfiteatro, with unidirectional differential routes and exit possible from 3 gates (Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro and Piazza Esedra).
The two routes, specially marked out according to mandatory directions, will allow the visitor to choose where to begin the visit, with a wide choice and access not only to public buildings but also to various domus.
Among the new developments of this second phase is the possibility at the Porta Marina entrance to visit the atmospheric Suburban Baths, which are reopening following maintenance works. The Baths, which once occupied a panoramica position overlooking the sea, are noteworthy for the erotic frescoes of the Apodyterium (changing room) which, curiously, marked the clothes shelves. Going back up towards the Forum, with all of its public and religious monuments, one can proceed north towards the House of the Faun and Via del Vesuvio, to then visit the House of the Golden Cupids or admire the fresco of Leda and the Swan in the house of the same name. Returning along Via Stabiana, one can visit the Central Baths and the House of Marcus Lucretius, before reaching the Theatre Quarter and passing by the House of the Cryptoporticus and the House of Menander.
Alternatively, a new green route begins at the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance, which sees several new features added to the pre-existing route.
Passing through the garden of the Large Palaestra or via the Amphitheatre, and crossing the Praedia of Julia Felix among pomegranate trees and the flower garden which the beautiful portico of the villa faces onto, one can visit the House of Octavius Quartius, where a canal with basins, which were once animated by water features, lies at the centre of the green space.
From here one can reach the House of the Ship Europa, where the doors to the lush vineyard behind it have now been opened to visitors for the first time. This vineyard was once used by the owners for the production and trade of wine, and it has been restored in modern times on the basis of historical sources and botanical studies conducted by the scholar Jashemski. Thanks to a recent project of historical reconstruction, the internal garden has also been restored to its former splendour, with the planting of vita maritata (‘married vine’) - a technique which involves the cultivation of the vine on another tree which acts as a support, and which has been used since ancient times until the 19th century in the area around Vesuvius.
An additional new feature of the route is the cart for the transport of goods, which is preserved in the service rooms of the House of Menander. The Cisium (the typical cart used for moving along the streets of the city, which could easily pass over the high pedestrian crossings thanks to its large wheels), includes some original parts which have undergone specific restoration and, thanks to the reconstruction of the surrounding structure conducted in the 1930’s by Amedeo Maiuru, we have an accurate picture of its shape.
From the Amphitheatre it is also possible to cross the Necropolis of Porta Nocera and visit the Garden of the Fugitives and its vineyard. Along Via dell’Abbondanza, one can visit the House of Cornelius Rufus, with its beautiful peristyle (colonnaded garden), which was recently reopened.
“These two weeks have allowed us to monitor the impact of visitors and the level of compliance with health regulations, and we have noted a positive response”, - declares Director General Massimo Osanna -, “even the number of people who have come to Pompeii, although limited to Campanian visitors, has progressively increased with some days, such as the 2nd June, being sold out, confirming the great desire to return and enjoy these places. With the opening of the regional borders, we expect a further increase in visitor numbers.
In this new phase several new features have been added to the routes, which have been made possible thanks to the maintenance and restoration works carried out during the lockdown. We took advantage of this opportunity to intervene even on the decoration of the entrances, in particular at Porta Marina and Piazza Esedra, which have been subject to some reconstruction works. In particular, the paving of Viale delle Ginestre has been redeveloped to improve access to the Theatre Quarter. Interventions have continued on the green spaces, which are monitored across the ancient city by experts on the Park gardens. While in some cases it was inevitable that following phytostatic studies to verify the stability and conditions of the plants, some trees would have to be felled in order to protect both archaeological structures and visitors, - such as the monumental pine located at the entrance of the Quadriporticus, which could not be saved - at the same time the plan to restore the garden of the domus is proceeding, with the historical reconstruction and integration of the various plant species.
INFO REGARDING ACCESS TO POMPEII
The opening hours of the site are confirmed from 9:00 to 19:00 (last entrance at 17:30), and the site will be closed on Mondays.
Tickets can be purchased exclusively online on the www.ticketone.it website, with the possibility to book for the same day, subject to availability.
There will be two different ticketed time slots:
- The first covers admissions between 9:00 and 16:45, and will cost €14.50 (plus the advance sale fee of €1.50)
- The second covers admissions between 16:45 and 17:30, and will cost €10.00 (plus the advance sale fee of €1.50)
Free and reduced price tickets will remain as per current regulations.
At the same time, the maximum number of people permitted to enter the site will be increased up to 150 people every 15 minutes.
At the time of purchasing online, the visitor will be able to select a time slot and preferred route. The ticket must be shown at the entrance, either on a smartphone or tablet (QR Code), or as a paper copy already printed at home.
Upon arrival, visitors will be subjected to temperature checks by means of a thermal scanner, and will be required to wear a mask throughout their visit to the site, as well as to maintain a physical distance from other visitors of 1m outdoors and 1.5m indoors, both on the site and outside.
All information relating to the safety measures for the containment of COVID-19 infection and the manner of visits will be displayed to visitors via the monitors present at the entrances and via signs.
Visits will take place in full compliance with the distancing measures detailed by the Scientific Technical Committee, and following the directions provided by signs which have been specially installed by the Park. Hand sanitiser gel dispensers for visitor use will be present at the entrance and at the toilets.
Visitors with mobility difficulties, entering from the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance, will be able to follow the facilitated “Pompeii for All” route.
In order to exit the site, visitors will return along the route, respecting both the distancing measures and right of way, towards the Piazza Anfiteatro gate.
VILLA REGINA at Boscoreale
The smaller sites will also reopen in a staggered manner in the coming weeks. This will begin with Villa Regina at Boscoreale, which from 10th June will welcome visitors from 9:00 to 19:00 (last entrance at 17:30). The number of visitors per time slot will be limited to 15 people, every 30 minutes at a cost of €2 (plus the advance sale fee of €1). The Antiquarium will be opened at a later time. The site will be closed on Tuesdays.
INFO https://pompeiisites.org/info-per-la-visita/percorsi-dal-9-giugno/
