Ancient site · Italy · Partial ruin
Villa of the Papyri
The Villa of the Papyri was an expansive Roman seaside villa at Herculaneum, famed for its large collection of papyrus scrolls and exceptional sculptures. Built on multi-level terraces overlooking the Gulf of Naples, it contained formal peristyles, baths, library rooms and richly decorated gardens clustered around porticoes and reception quarters.
Its prime
AD 79
Today
Partial ruin
As it stood in AD 79
What Villa of the Papyri looked like in its prime.
A multi-terraced Roman seaside villa set directly above the ancient shoreline, with white-stuccoed walls, rows of marble columns forming peristyles and colonnaded porticoes, red terracotta tile roofs, and steps and terraces dropping toward the sea. Central open courtyards contain pools or impluvia; interiors display painted frescoes, wooden furniture and shelves; bronze and marble statues punctuate galleries and garden walks amid clipped hedges and planted beds.
Step inside
12 places to explore in AD 79.
The record describes 12 distinct spots at Villa of the Papyri — including 7 interiors: fauces (entrance passage), atrium with impluvium and fountain statuary, tablinum opening to the first peristyle and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Villa of the Papyri with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in AD 79 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Ancient site to Explore →Nearby
