Ercolano Daily Life Exhibition Opens at Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome hosts 'Ercolano. L’arte di vivere', an exhibition opening July 22, 2025, and running until October 18, 2026. It presents over 70 artifacts from the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum, many previously in storage. The show focuses on daily life in ancient Herculaneum before the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption, covering food, domestic spaces, and social customs. Curated by Massimo Osanna, Federica Colaiacomo, Luca Mercuri, and Francesco Sirano, it is a collaboration between the Parco archeologico di Ercolano, Istituto Pantheon, and Castel Sant'Angelo. The exhibition expands on an earlier food-themed project at Villa Campolieto. It features seven sections, including a Wunderkammer with 42 exceptional pieces, immersive eruption installations, and displays of carbonized bread, kitchen tools, and organic remains. Highlights include a larva convivialis (skeleton-shaped table ornament) and a marble sundial marking Roman meal times. The venue choice links two layered historical sites. Officials emphasize the exhibition's role in making Herculaneum's unique preservation accessible to wider audiences.