Villa dei Misteri

Pompei, Italy

The Villa of the Mysteries (Villa dei Misteri) is a well-preserved suburban Roman villa on the outskirts of Pompeii, southern Italy, famous for the series of frescos in one room, which are usually thought to show the initiation of a young woman into a Greco-Roman mystery cult. These are now probably the best known of the relatively rare survivals of Ancient Roman painting. Like the rest of the Roman city of Pompeii, the villa was buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 and excavated from 1909 onwards (long after much of the main city). It is now a popular part of tourist visits to Pompeii, and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Pompeii.

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Founded: 0-100 AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Italy

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4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Wayne “Sox” (10 months ago)
Part of the pompeii experience. You can walk round parts of what was a villa. Amazing to see what was left behind and colours still stand out throughout
Nelson Perez (10 months ago)
Even this is the farthest part of the park it is worthy the walk to that place. The mural painting is amazing.
Salla V (11 months ago)
Worth a visit even it's a bit further away from the main area. Beautiful frescos and mosaic floors and few interesting plaster casts. Free to visit with entry ticket.
Kevin Hua (12 months ago)
This villa was preserved along with Pompeii after Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. In it you can see plaster molds of victims to the volcano, experience what a working villa that made wine. What's most famous is the well preserved frescas that are easily visible and are among the best examples for Roman art. The site is pretty far from the main Pompeii complex however it is worth a visit. You will come upon a gate that looks like an exit, but keep going and you will go through some gardens and then into the villa.
Nicolás Rodrigo (2 years ago)
Simply mind blowing, probably the best frescoes from Pompeii are here. There's an infographic which explains every thing in the fresco. Looks like Romans were really fancy and had art in every room. Think about your house and compare it with this, which is at least 2000 years old.
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