Destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., it occupied a smaller area compared to the famous Pompeii, but not for this, is it to be considered less important historically and archeologically speaking.

Herculaneum, due to the closeness to the Greek city of Naples, felt strongly the influence both from the cultural and artistic point of view and many consider it more advanced culturally and more elegant than the nearby Pompeii. It was buried under a layer of mud in some points 30 metres deep that solidified perfectly conserving wooden furniture, archaeological material and bronze statues and in the Villa dei Papiri (not open to the public), important tracts of philosophy were discovered. The archaeological site of Pompeii, even though larger does not present the refined pictorial taste and mosaic decorations of Herculanum or is it as well conserved.