Location: Ercolano
Top Things to do in Ercolano
The 10 Best Historic Sites in Ercolano, Campania
Ercolano [erkoˈlaːno] is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania of Southern Italy. It lies at the western foot of Mount Vesuvius, on the Bay of Naples, just southeast of the city of Naples. The medieval town of Resina - read Resìna - was built on the volcanic material left by the eruption of Vesuvius (79 CE) that destroyed the ancient city of Herculaneum, from which the present name is derived. Ercolano is a resort and the starting point for excursions to the excavations of Herculaneum and for the ascent of Vesuvius by bus. The town also manufactures leather goods, buttons, glass, and the wine known as Lacryma Christi (Tears of Christ).
Restaurants in Ercolano
1. Casa di Nettuno e Anfitrite
2. Parco Acheologico di Ercolano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,869 reviews
Life as it existed in this ancient Greek settlement (5th century B.C.) was frozen in time when rivers of hot mud flowed down its streets from an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
Reviewed By leeherb18 - Sardinia, Italy
Visited Pompeii and Herculaneum while staying in Naples. Both good but Herculaneum much smaller but we found it much better. We took a taxi from Naples which cost €80 return with the driver waiting for 2 hours while we were there. The driver suggested payment at the end of the trip which was good and no risk. Two hours was probably 1 hour too short for the visit but we saw everything we wanted to see. Admission price is good €11 per adult and the queue for entrance was only about 10 mins. Maps are good and easy to use and an audio guide and/or a guided tour is available although we just used the map and booklet provided which worked perfectly for us.
3. Casa del Rilievo di Telefo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By macedonboy - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Casa del Rilievo di Telefo is one of the largest buildings in the Herculaneum and thought to have belonged to the Roman senator, Marco Nonio Balbo. The lobby of the building is lined by colonnades on either side with Tuscan style columns. The house gets its name from the reliefs depicting the Greek myth of Telephus. The marble reliefs are displayed in-situ, but are fragmentary. The size of the house, level of restoration and reliefs makes it one of the best buildings to see.
4. Casa del Bel Cortile
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By macedonboy - Glasgow, United Kingdom
The Casa del Bel Cortile is one of the best preserved houses in Herculaneum and named for the well Bel Cortile or in English, beautiful courtyard. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s beautiful, but the courtyard and house are certainly well preserved. So well preserved that the interiors and structure of the rooms are largely intact. Large sections of red fresco are preserved on the walls, but it's not really that interesting as it’s mostly plain or simple geometric patterns. In contrast, the marble (I thinking( floor is also beautifully preserved in the inner courtyard.
5. La Terrazza di M. Nonio Balbo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 78 reviews
Reviewed By macedonboy - Glasgow, United Kingdom
This part of Herculaneum is the Terrace of Marcus Nonius Balbus, named in honour of the eponymous Roman senator who was a supporter of the future Augustus, Octavian. The terrace is a viewpoint of the town below and is lined with sculptures, including at least one of the senator. It’s a good viewpoint and one where you can get a panoramic of the town.
6. House of the Grand Portal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By macedonboy - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Casa del Gran Portale is the house of the Grand Portal, so called because of the entrance portal that is decorated with Corinthian columns. The columns are actually half columns made of bricks and more with capitals adorned with sculptures of Victoria, equivalent to the Greek goddess Nike, and the personification of victory. It’s possible to go into the house where you’ll see several rooms opening onto the vestibule and a small courtyard. Many of the rooms are decorated with frescoes depicting gardens, scenes of Dionysian, satyrs and other nature themes. This is one of the houses that is worth visiting.
7. Casa Sannitica
8. Central Thermae
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By macedonboy - Glasgow, United Kingdom
This area contains the buildings of the central baths of Herculaneum. The baths and spas occupy quite a large area. Interestingly, the baths had a male and female section and the latter has a pretty mosaic of Triton. Quite a lot of the salient features of the baths have been preserved such as shelves for visitor belongings, the caldarium of the male steam rooms, the apodyterium of the female and several mosaics including the aforementioned Triton.
