Pompeii to Become a Diffuse Museum with EU Support

Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano announced on October 4, 2023, that Pompeii will transform into a 'diffuse museum' (museo diffuso) as part of a sustainable valorization program. During a visit with EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira, Sangiuliano outlined plans to expand the archaeological park into a network of sites including Pompeii, Boscoreale, Oplontis, and Stabia, connected by a single three-day ticket and shuttle service. The initiative follows the success of the 'Grande Progetto Pompei,' co-funded by the European Union, which restored and reopened several monumental complexes. Sangiuliano emphasized that the emergency phase is over and that over 230 million euros will be invested in the coming years. Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel highlighted ongoing investments in monitoring and maintenance, collaborating with universities and research centers. Museum director Massimo Osanna noted that the methods developed at Pompeii are being exported to the National Museum System via the PNRR. The public presentation of the 'Grande Pompei' project is scheduled for October 13, 2023. On that day, the Antiquarium of Boscoreale will reopen with a room dedicated to ongoing excavations at Civita Giuliana and the ceremonial chariot found in 2021, along with the villas of Stabia. The Villa of the Mysteries will also debut a new lighting system powered 70% by photovoltaic tiles resembling ancient ones.