Sounds and lights area appearing in a magical atmosphere in Pompeii at night. “The Eternal City” opened for night visits from July 8, 2017 delighting visitors with ethereal wonders and the benefit of the cooling night breeze.

“The new lighting system of Pompei is another important step in the revival of a unique archaeological site in the world, a journey that enabled 30 domus (houses) to be visited by the public … to provide the entire archaeological coverage area [with] Wi-Fi, and to realize a three-kilometer itinerary that allows full accessibility to significant parts of the excavations.

“Thanks to the exciting lighting system, the lines and shapes of the ruins now shine with a renewed beauty,” said the Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Dario Franceschini.

“The revival of Pompeii,” declared the Minister for Territorial Cohesion and the Mezzogiorno, Claudio De Vincenti, “is also fundamental to the international image of the country. Now we must make it a landmark for the development of the entire territory, linking Pompeii to Herculaneum, Stabia, Torre Annunziata. This is one of the most beautiful areas in the world that needs to be re-valued.”

Exclusive video images of Pompeii’s night lighting, a time-lapse video, and a stunning photo gallery are also available.

With the new lighting, visitors will enjoy the archaeological area in a path of sounds and lights that are from the ancient Porta Marina and leads to the fullest of history.

The proposed itinerary

Past the Suburban Baths, just outside the city walls, and with access from the sea road, can be heard the screams and the activities of artisans and workers from the naval shops (the baker’s shop and the shop of Furius), the noise and the talk of the landlady in the Domus of Trittolema, the sounds and the voices that accompany and tell the ludi (games) in honor of Apollo in the same-named shrine, and again the rhythm of drums and music of sacred worship ceremonies for the supreme Jupiter.

The Capitolium (or Temple of Jupiter), the confusion of the Market (the Macellum), and the activities of the fulloni (laundry site) at the Eumachia Building, (Eumachia was the public priestess of the Imperial cult in Pompeii) mark the stages of this journey in the past.

The itinerary ends at the Basilica, (the ancient Palace of Justice), where the walls of the building are transformed through a 3-dimensional projection into Pompeian houses and gardens full of life and colors with frescoes of plants and flowers as seen through the eyes of Pompeians for enjoyment and pleasure.