Hercules in the City: Thematic Family Tours at the Herculaneum

Hercules in the City: Thematic Family Tours at the Herculaneum Archaeological Park

The Herculaneum Archaeological Park is hosting two themed visits designed for families to explore traces of Hercules across the ancient town. The itinerary combines archaeological explanations with mythological storytelling, stopping at some of the site’s most evocative places.

Route

The tour begins at the Sede degli Augustali, where frescoes depicting Hercules introduce the relationship between cult, civic identity and iconography. Continuing along the main street visitors reach the House of the Relief of Telephus, a large residence that preserves a marble relief linked to the Hercules myth. The visit concludes at the Antiquarium, home to the impressive bronze fountain representing the Lernaean Hydra, the monster Hercules faced in his second labor.

Why attend

• Content tailored for children and families: engaging and accessible explanations.
• Insight into how myth and daily life intersected among Roman elites.
• A guided experience through frescoes, sculptures and architecture suitable for young visitors.

Practical information

• Dates: 8 May 2026 and 15 May 2026
• Times: 10:00–11:00 (Italian) – 11:30–12:30 (English)
• Groups: max 25 participants per session, subject to availability
• Cost: activity free of charge, contingent upon purchase of the standard site admission ticket (reductions and exemptions apply under law)
• Booking required:
  • Online: ercolano.coopculture.it
  • Call center: +39 081 0106490 (Mon–Sat, 9:00–17:00)
• Comfortable clothing and suitable footwear recommended for on-site walking.

These visits blend scholarly accuracy with narrative ease, offering families an engaging way to meet archaeology and ancient myth through the figure of Hercules.