Victim casts: new permanent route at the Palestra Grande in Pompeii

Victim casts: a new permanent route at Pompeii’s Palestra Grande

From 12 March 2026, the Palestra Grande within the Pompeii archaeological area opens a permanent exhibition dedicated to the casts of victims from the 79 AD eruption. Designed as a memorial, the display offers an integrated account of the tragedy, explaining the origin, technique and context of the finds.

What the exhibition shows

The display brings together 22 casts considered among the most significant recovered during excavations, presented in relation to the original locations where they were found: from inner domus to streets and exit points. This assembly of evidence is notable for its scope and helps trace Pompeii’s final hours through postures, gestures and clothing details preserved in the casts.

Layout and sections

• Volcanology section: explanations of eruption dynamics and the pyroclastic surge;
• Organic remains section: plants and animals preserved by the event;
• Human remains section: the casts, their original positioning, and technical and interpretative insights.

How the casts were made

During the eruption’s second phase a hot cloud of ash and pumice enveloped residents, solidifying around their bodies. As organic material decomposed, cavities formed in the hardened ash. In the 19th century archaeologists filled these voids with plaster, creating the casts that today reveal the positions and details of the people caught in the catastrophe.

Visitor information

• Location: Palestra Grande, Pompeii Archaeological Park;
• Opening of the route: 12 March 2026;
• Admission: included in the Pompeii Archaeological Park ticket;
• Tip: allow sufficient time to read interpretative panels and follow the contextual layout of the finds.

The new route at the Palestra Grande offers a chance to better understand the human impact of the 79 AD eruption and the archaeological methods that have preserved these powerful testimonies.