Herculaneum: culture and inclusion at the archaeological site

The Herculaneum Archaeological Park hosted a morning focused on cultural accessibility, offering a guided visit and shared reading sessions for ten participants from the Multifunctional Center for Disabled Adults. The event was organized in partnership with the G. Buonajuto Civic Library and the Boetheia Onlus Cooperative and is part of the May Books 2026 initiative.

The programme aimed to facilitate direct engagement with the UNESCO-listed site: participants, accompanied by center and library staff, explored the decumani, ancient domus, workshops and the Ancient Beach, learning about everyday life in Roman Herculaneum.

Goals and social impact

The activity promotes site accessibility and encourages reading among young people, in line with the Reading Pact supported by the Municipality of Ercolano. The morning combined guided exploration with collective readings, allowing participants to take an active role and guide their peers through the park.

Practical information

• Participants: 10 users from the Multifunctional Center for Disabled Adults, escorted by staff;
• Partners: G. Buonajuto Civic Library, Boetheia Onlus Cooperative;
• Activities: tour of decumani, domus, workshops and Ancient Beach; shared reading;
• Admission: free for participants within the initiative.

The park director highlighted the institution's ongoing commitment to making cultural heritage accessible to everyone. This event follows previous inclusive programmes at the park, including actions designed for people with neurodevelopmental disorders.

For professionals and organisations working on accessibility in archaeological sites, this initiative offers a practical example of collaboration between cultural institutions and local social services.