Virtual Archaeological Museum of Herculaneum, Technology museum in Ercolano, Italy.
The Virtual Archaeological Museum of Herculaneum (MAV) occupies the restored former Iaccarino school building in Ercolano, about 5,000 square metres over three levels. It holds no ancient finds: some seventy installations, including 3D reconstructions, holograms, virtual books and synchronised multi-projections, recreate daily life in the Roman towns at the foot of Vesuvius before the eruption of 79. A 1:1000 scale model and video wall show Herculaneum's theatre, still buried under tufa.
The museum opened in 2008 and draws from evidence discovered in Herculaneum, which was destroyed along with nearby cities when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. It was created to make this vanished world visible again through modern technology.
Visitors explore how people in ancient Rome actually lived through digital recreations showing homes, work, and daily interactions. These depictions reveal genuine details from the Roman period that archaeology has brought to light.
The museum is located in Ercolano and offers audio guides in multiple languages to enhance your visit. Set aside several hours to explore the content fully and engage with the interactive features.
The projection hall has a 26-metre screen and 3D technology showing the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, with a vibrating platform that simulates earthquakes. The museum also holds a 1:1000 scale model of the Theatre of Herculaneum, still buried under tufa and explored through tunnels in Bourbon times.
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