The Great Pompeii Project: Visit the Newly-Restored Areas of Pompeii

In 2013 the European Union (EU) pledged €105 million for the Great Pompeii Project to restore the ancient Italian city. There were international concerns not only about the renowned site deteriorating slowly, but also that without careful scrutiny the work was being taken over by organized crime and not handled properly.

The ruins of Pompeii are one of more than 50 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites in Italy. In fact, the Bel Paese (beautiful country) has more World Heritage Sites than any other country.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., the ash smothered Pompeii and killed its citizens but it also preserved the ruins just as they were on that fateful day. The restoration work that has been undertaken in recent years is to ensure that the elements do not cause any further decay or deterioration.

Recent restorative work has brought one of Pompeii’s most well known and loved mosaics back to its former glory: The Cave Canem (beware of the dog) mosaic ornamenting the vestibule floor of the House of the Tragic Poet.

Visitors who take our Private Naples to Pompeii and Vesuvius Excursion or Private Naples to Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Trip will now see this beautifully detailed mosaic of a leashed pet dog cleaned of mud and protected by a transparent cover.