Welcome to the Excavations of Oplontis, an extraordinary archaeological site located in the modern city of Torre Annunziata, at the foot of Vesuvius. Oplontis was part of a luxury residential area during the Roman era, renowned for its sumptuous aristocratic villas. This site, buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, is particularly known for the splendid Villa of Poppaea, belonging to the second wife of Emperor Nero, and Villa B, a residence for commercial use.

The excavations of Oplontis represent one of the richest and best-preserved testimonies of daily life and luxury in ancient Rome, offering a window into a distant era, immersed between splendor and tragedy.

The Villa of Poppaea, one of the site’s masterpieces, is a perfect example of a villa d’otium, a residence meant for relaxation and social life rather than agricultural production. This splendid residential complex covers approximately 10,000 square meters, making it one of the largest and most luxurious villas discovered in the Vesuvian area.

The villa is famous for its extraordinarily well-preserved frescoes, which reflect the wealth and refined taste of the Roman aristocracy. These frescoes, belonging to the so-called Second Pompeian Style, depict mythological scenes, still lifes, and exotic landscapes, creating an elegant and evocative atmosphere. The rooms of the villa are organized around a large peristyle, an internal garden surrounded by a colonnade, which offered the inhabitants a pleasant area for relaxation and outdoor activities.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Villa of Poppaea is its frescoes. The walls are covered with vibrant decorations depicting a variety of subjects, including mythological figures such as Hercules and Dionysus, still lifes of fruit and flowers, as well as idyllic landscapes. These decorations not only adorn the living spaces but also provide insight into the Roman aesthetic sensitivity and the importance attributed to art and beauty in aristocratic residences.

In particular, in the dining rooms and reception halls, the frescoes create an illusion of openness towards lush gardens and exotic landscapes, with painted columns and fantastic scenes. These paintings, now famous worldwide, allow us to imagine what it must have been like to live in such a refined environment.

The triclinium, the dining room of the villa, is one of the most important spaces, as this is where banquets and official dinners took place. The ancient Romans placed great importance on meals as moments of socialization, and the triclinium was the place where guests gathered to enjoy the delicacies offered by the host family. The walls of the triclinium are adorned with elaborate frescoes depicting scenes of banquets and festivities, underscoring the significance of food and wine in Roman culture.

The villa also includes private baths, equipped with sophisticated heating systems known as hypocausts. These baths were symbols of luxury and well-being, and the heated rooms, such as the calidarium and tepidarium, offered the inhabitants a place to relax and take care of their bodies.

One of the central elements of the villa is the peristyle, an internal garden surrounded by a colonnade, which represented the green heart of the residence. This open space was used for walks, moments of relaxation, and conversations with guests, immersed in the fragrance of flowers and the sound of fountains. The ancient Romans were great admirers of nature and often integrated gardens within their residences, creating true private paradises.

The garden of the Villa of Poppaea was enriched with geometric flower beds, ornamental plants, and numerous sculptures, many of which were recovered during the excavations. The presence of fountains and decorative basins completed this picture of serenity and beauty, offering an oasis of tranquility amidst the sumptuous villa.

Next to the Villa of Poppaea, the excavations have uncovered another important structure known as Villa B. Unlike the aristocratic residence of Poppaea, this villa seems to have a more practical function related to the production and trade of goods such as wine and oil. The discoveries of amphorae and agricultural tools support this theory.

Villa B, more modest compared to the Villa of Poppaea, nevertheless represents a fascinating example of a mixed residence, with spaces dedicated to both daily life and economic activity. Even here, though with less splendor, there are pictorial and architectural decorations that offer further testimony to life in Roman villas.

Like many sites in the Vesuvian area, Oplontis was completely buried by the eruption