Pompeii's Regio IX opens to public with famous 'pizza' fresco

Starting January 3, 2024, the Regio IX excavation site in Pompeii opens to the public for guided tours. This area, previously inaccessible, contains the famous fresco of a flatbread nicknamed 'pizza' found in an ancient bakery. Tours are limited to 15 people, Monday to Friday at 11:00, with booking required. The excavation, covering about 3,200 square meters, began in 1888 but was halted; it resumed in February 2023. Two atrium houses from the Samnite period were uncovered, later converted into a fullonica (laundry) and a bakery with ovens and grinding spaces. The site also revealed remains of three eruption victims and evidence of slave labor, including cramped quarters with barred windows. The broader excavation aims to address hydrogeological and conservation issues, as 22 hectares of the ancient city remain buried.