Herculaneum Beach Reopens after 19-century hiatus

[Quintillus]

Roma - Local authorities have announced the re-opening of a beach at Herculaneum, southeast of Neapolis, which had been closed for nearly 1945 years, since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius during the reign of Titus.

An ancient Roman beach that was buried by the AD79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius has reopened to the public at Herculaneum archaeological park in southern Italy.

The beach has been reinstated after conservation work in recent years restored its original level, including bringing back sand, which is aimed at giving visitors the experience of walking along the beach almost as it was before the eruption.

“The ancient beach is an extraordinary and unique place in the world,” said Francesco Sirano, the director of the archaeological park. “If we look towards where the sea once was, we become modern explorers of the immense blanket of volcanic flow that covered the city in a few hours, almost sharing the sense of total annihilation.”

Source/full article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/a...-vesuvius-reopens-to-public-after-restoration

Over the intervening centuries, the shoreline has moved a few hundred meters farther out, so the beach is no longer right at the sea.

Anyone planning to go on holiday there? It might not be the ideal beach for basking in the sun and running into the water - although it might work for the former - but surely ranks above most when it comes to history.