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.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
