Villa of the Papyri
Villa of the Papyri, Roman villa in Ercolano, Italy
The Villa of the Papyri is an ancient residence in Ercolano, Italy, that stretches along the coast and includes several courtyards with colonnades. The complex connects living quarters with garden areas and pools through long corridors.
The owner of this estate was probably Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, father-in-law of Julius Caesar. Excavations began in the 18th century through underground tunnels, long before modern archaeological methods were developed.
The scrolls discovered here contain philosophical works written in Greek, mainly texts from the Epicurean school. Scholars continue working to decipher these charred documents and gain new insights into ancient thought.
Access is through the Herculaneum excavation site, which provides paths through the uncovered areas. Part of the complex remains underground and is not open to visitors.
A museum in California was named after this site and built as a recreation of its original architecture. The artworks displayed there partly come from direct replicas of the sculptures found here.
Location: Ercolano
Part of: Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, Herculaneum
GPS coordinates: 40.80667,14.34556
Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:33
Herculaneum
175 m
Samnite House
168 m
Casa dello Scheletro
112 m
Terme del Foro
162 m
House of the wooden partition
145 m
College of the Augustales
191 m
Casa a Graticcio
143 m
House of the Mosaic Atrium
149 m
Argo's house
81 m
House of Charred Furniture
180 m
Aristide's house
78 m
House of the two atria
164 m
Genio's house
97 m
Bronze Herm house
135 m
Painted papyrus
164 m
Casa dell'Albergo
97 m
Casa della fullonica
156 m
Brickwork house
128 m
Thermopolium
117 m
Decumanus inferior
170 m
Galba's house
130 m
Central thermal baths, male sector
146 m
Central thermal baths, female sector
173 m
Cardo IV
168 m
The Fornici on the ancient beach (with the casts of the skeletons)
161 m
Cardo III
113 m
Terrazza dell'Area Sacra suburbana
87 m
Pavimenti a mosaico delle terme urbane femminili
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