ATTENZIONE
MAVQr è ottimizzato per essere navigato da dispositivi smartphone e tablet.
Per vedere il contenuto della pagina scansiona il QrCode con il tuo device.
The Theater of Herculaneum
Three hundred years ago the theatre was the first building of the ancient Ercolano which was found during the digging of a well for gathering water. In 1710 the peasant Ambrogio Nocerino, digging out, came to the scene of this theatre, from which he removed marbles and statues. This date also marks the discovery of the ancient Herculaneum, destroyed by the Vesuvio’s eruption in 79 AD. Its systematics exploration started in 1738, beginning from the theatre, thanks to Charles of Bourbon’s will.
The theatre was built at the age of Augustus, we know the name of the architect who planned it: P. Numisius.
The building, one of best preserved theatres of the Roman civilization, was explored through tunnels during the Bourbon escavation, today it is also buried under a volcanic blanket, more than 20 metres thick, and over which some buildings were built.
It is constitued of an hemicycle which is more than 50 metres high, it is divided upright in three sectores (summa, media and ima cavea), where about 2500 people could find seats.
It was built completely by opera reticolata, with angular ammorsature of tufelli, while the stage was made of bricks and tiles.
The tiers of cavea was made of tufa, except the seats of honour in the down tiers, covered with white marble and ancient yellow, where the most eminent people of town had the right to sit.
The other zones of the theatre were richly decorated in the Pompeian fourth style, with frescoes and stuccoes which decorated also the outside of the building. The stage and the scene were covered with marbles which were almost all removed during the Bourbon explorations.
The scene was adorned with marble statues, while in the middle of the upper tiers, opposite the stage, there was a small temple, marble-covered, where a female bronze statue was placed. Some pairs of bronze horses, actual size, placed on high bases covered with marbles, made the decoration grand.
A colonnade arcade was placed back the theatre, where the audience could stay during the intervals of performances.
Audio guide
Videoguida LIS
Clicca play per la Videoguida con in LIS
The Museum
The MAV is located a few steps from the archaeological excavations of Herculaneum, one of the most visited sites in the world, adjacent to the historic market of Pugliano in Via 4 Novembre 44.
The Mav is easily accessible both by public transport (Circumvesuviana, Autobus, State Railways) and by car (A3 Napoli-Salerno motorway, Ercolano exit).
It is close to other places of interest in the area, including: the Vesuvian Observatory, the Vesuvian Villas of the Golden Mile and the Archaeological Excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii.
Near the hotel there are prestigious hotel complexes, restaurants, pizzerias and everything that can make a pleasant stay in Herculaneum.
- Timetables
From March 1st to May 31st
from Monday to Sunday from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm (last entry)
From 1 June to 30 September
from Monday to Sunday from 10.00 to 18.30 (last entry)
From October 1st to February 28th
from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 16.00 (last entry)
Monday closed.
- Rates
MAV Museum and 3D films
€ 10.00 Adult individual ticket
€ 8.00 Under 13 ticket, over 65, students, teachers, artecard.
MAV Museum
€ 6.00 Individual ticket
MAV for families
Visit to the museum + viewing of the film in 3D / multiD
€ 30.00 for 2 adults + 2 children
For each additional child € 7.50
Organized groups (+ 15pp)
€ 8 MAV Museum + 3D Film
Special rates for schools.
- Address
CIVES Foundation - MAV
Via IV Novembre 44 | Herculaneum
Naples - Italy
- Contacts
Email: info@museomav.it
Website: www.museomav.it
Facebook: www.facebook.com/museomav
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MuseoMav
Instagram: www.instagram.com/museomav
Tel. +39 081 7776843
Fax. +39 081-7323941
- How to get
From Naples:
Circumvesuviana: from the Central Station (Piazza Garibaldi) lines for Sorrento and Poggiomarino via Pompei stop Ercolano Scavi
Bus: lines 157 from Naples-Parking Brin and 255 from Naples - Piazza Carlo III
State Railways: Salerno-Naples line, Portici-Ercolano stop
Via Highway: A3 Napoli-Salerno exit Ercolano towards Scavi