European Night of Museums 2026 at the Herculaneum Archaeological Park

The Herculaneum Archaeological Park will take part in the twentieth edition of the European Night of Museums with a special evening opening on 23 May 2026. Visitors can access collections and pavilions after hours and attend guided lessons and activities suitable for all ages.

Special hours: open from 20:00 to 24:00 (last admission at 23:00).

Main program

• Extraordinary opening of the Antiquarium and the Boat Pavilion with on-site lessons led by the park's scientific staff.
• Theatrical reading by the Peter Pan primary school: "Heracles and the Lernaean Hydra", staged in front of the bronze Hydra fountain.
• Collective reading by students of the Adriano Tilgher High School: selected passages from Canto per l'Europa, performed along the access avenue to the site.
• Educational activities linked to the local reading pact and the national campaign Maggio dei Libri (May of Books).

Events at Villa Campolieto

In collaboration with Coopculture, the evening continues at Villa Campolieto (Corso Resina 283), open until 24:00, with two events focused on ancient food culture:

• 20:00 — "The Perfect Plate": guided visit-lab (120') to explore ancient nutrition and compose a balanced plate; activity for families and children; free activity with a symbolic villa entry ticket of €1.
• 22:00 — "Panem et Condimenta": animated reading (90') about Roman recipes, remedies and culinary customs; open to the general public; villa entry with a symbolic ticket of €1.

Practical information

• Date: 23 May 2026
• General hours: 20:00–24:00 (last admission 23:00)
• Admission: symbolic fee of €1, except for legally provided free entries
• Site entrances: Corso Resina 187 and Via dei Papiri Ercolanesi 19
• Accessibility: activities designed for schools and families; check with the Park for specific accessibility needs.

The evening highlights the archaeological heritage and promotes reading as a community cultural practice. Visitors are advised to arrive early and confirm any updates on times or access procedures before their visit.