Herculaneum's Ancient Food Culture Revealed Through Free Archaeological Itinerary

The Herculaneum Archaeological Park has launched a thematic itinerary titled 'I luoghi del cibo a Ercolano' (The Places of Food in Herculaneum), exploring the central role of food in the ancient city's daily life. This free guided tour, scheduled for April 3, April 17, and May 1, 2026, reconstructs the gastronomic culture of the city destroyed alongside Pompeii during the Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. The journey begins on the city streets, where thermopolia—small establishments with masonry counters and terracotta jars—served quick meals like legume, cereal, or fish soups, resembling contemporary street food. Nearby, specialized wine shops displayed painted jugs indicating quality and price. The itinerary highlights the bakery of Sextus Patulcius Felix, revealing the entire bread-making process from grinding wheat with lava stone mills to baking in ovens. Anthropological analyses of skeletons found on the ancient beach show traces of this work on residents' teeth. Research has detailed the Herculaneum diet: fish, seafood, legumes, cereals, olives, figs, nuts, and significant natural sugars explaining the numerous cavities found in human remains. While streets reveal the popular face of the city, wealthy domus like the Casa dei Cervi showcase the convivial dimension of food. In tricliniums, often overlooking gardens and the sea, elaborate dinners with appetizers, main courses, and fruit were accompanied by music and conversation. The narrative extends beyond the archaeological site with an exhibition at Villa Campolieto, where artifacts and organic materials preserved by the eruption expand the story of food civilization in the Vesuvian city. Visitors must purchase the general admission ticket to the park to access these free tours.