A treasure rediscovered: the House of the Bronze Herm reopens to the public
After a long and careful restoration project, June 2, 2025 will mark a new chapter in the history of Herculaneum: the House of the Bronze Herm , one of the most fascinating domus of the ancient Vesuvian city, will finally be accessible to the public again.
It is not simply the reopening of an archaeological site, but the return to life of a space that carries with it centuries of memory and a recent past of wounds and rebirth.
From Vandalism to Rebirth: The Recovery of a Wounded HeritageThe reopening announcement comes exactly one year after the episode that had aroused indignation and concern: an act of vandalism by a tourist, caught while writing on an ancient wall. The timely action of the Park staff had prevented irreversible damage, but what followed required expertise, time and a joint commitment of numerous professionals.
The recovery intervention , divided into two phases, had as its first objective that of eliminating every trace of the vandalism. The removal of the indelible ink from the mural paintings was made possible thanks to a meticulous preliminary study, aimed at identifying safe techniques that would allow the integrity of the original work to be safeguarded.
A second, larger phase was then started as part of the extraordinary maintenance programme involving the entire site of Herculaneum , to ensure effective and long-lasting conservation of the domus.
Balance between protection and enhancementThe works focused in particular on the wall surfaces of the atrium of the house, whose pictorial decorations, made according to the refined taste of the so-called Third Pompeian Style , were at risk of being irreparably compromised. The interventions included the consolidation of the pictorial film and the preparatory layers, as well as the treatment of old modern plasters marked by engravings and graffiti, many of which date back to the 1990s and 2000s.
Another important piece was the repositioning of an original fragment of plaster that collapsed in 2019, which had been carefully preserved in the Park's warehouses.
A Samnite-era house that tells ancient storiesView this post on Instagram
The House of the Bronze Herm, also known as III, 16, is a small but elegant residence built in the Samnite period and brought to light between 1927 and 1929 under the direction of Amedeo Maiuri. The name derives from a male portrait statue, probably the owner of the house, placed on a marble herm, the original of which is now kept in the Park's deposits.
The house opens onto the main road through a narrow corridor ( fauces ), on the sides of which there is a service room, perhaps inhabited by the porter, and a bedroom decorated with painted landscapes. The central atrium is embellished with decorations in the Third Style and a tuff basin intended to collect rainwater. Next to the tablinum, the ancient study or room for receiving guests, a copy of the famous bronze head, symbol and identity of the domus, has been placed.
Continuing towards the back, you discover a courtyard transformed into a covered space and a sober but harmonious dining room. A side corridor connects the spaces and leads to another service room, where there was once a staircase to the upper floor. Also curious is the presence of windows that give light not only to the house, but also to the neighboring one, called “a Graticcio”, suggesting an ancient connection between the two properties.
The Value of Continuity: Conservation and Shared ResponsibilityBehind the restoration project lies a multidisciplinary effort coordinated by the Ercolano Archaeological Park , in collaboration with the Packard Humanities Institute and external restorers. A scientific and integrated approach has allowed not only to restore decorum and legibility to the interior spaces, but also to rethink the meaning of conservation as a living and participatory practice. The necessary funds were raised through ticketing, supported by state resources, thanks to the 2015 stability law.
The Park 's delegate director, Francesco Sirano , underlined the symbolic importance of this reopening: an opportunity for visitors and an act of responsibility towards the past and future generations. The House of the Bronze Herm, he declared, stops being a wounded place and returns to speak of care, identity and redemption .
