Looking at in Italy

An exhibit in Boscoreale, near Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed in AD 79 by red-hot ashes from the explosion of Vesuvius, the volcano overlooking Naples. For the first time, the “calchi,” or plaster molds, are on show collectively – the plaster casts, some recently made and some from museum collections, of the skeletal remains of victims whose death by molten lava and ash was so sudden that many details of clothes, hair or tools were buried and preserved by the volcanic residue. The casts also show the extraordinary death throes of men, women, children and animals as they fled or cowered under the searing heat. Pompeii exhibits have been touring the world recently, but this is the closest encounter with the pathos and drama of the last day of a thriving Roman city.

Open until December 20th in the Antiquarium di Boscoreale, Via Settetermini, 15 - loc. Villa Regina - Boscoreale (Na) Open daily.

https://www.pompeiisites.org