The large enclosure traditionally called the Forum Boarium lies beside the Amphitheatre in Regio II. Its name, meaning cattle market, preserves an early interpretation based on the discovery of many cattle bones. Later archaeological investigation showed that the property was occupied by a large vineyard. It should therefore not be confused with Pompeii’s civic Forum or described as a securely identified livestock market.
Evidence for cultivation included cavities left by vine roots and their supports. These traces allowed archaeologists to reconstruct the organisation of the plantation and relate it to the vine-training methods described in ancient agricultural literature. The name vitis compluviata refers to a system in which branches were arranged in a framework above the ground, with shoots hanging down on its sides.
The vineyard had installations for making and storing wine. A wine press and ten large terracotta storage jars, or dolia, were identified in the north-western part of the enclosure. The Park’s guide gives an estimated harvest of about 120 hectolitres. This is an archaeological estimate of production, rather than a surviving ancient account.
The property also contained masonry dining areas: two stood near the entrance, with another in the north-western corner. Their proximity to the Amphitheatre helps explain how a productive plot could also receive customers attending public spectacles. Cultivation, wine production and hospitality were closely connected here.
The site was investigated in several campaigns, including 1813–1814, 1933–1935, 1954–1955 and 1968–1972. An experimental vineyard was later established on the plot using local grape varieties. The distinction between the ancient planting evidence and the modern vines is essential to understanding what is visible today. The enclosure illustrates how extensive areas within Pompeii’s walls could remain in agricultural use alongside major public buildings.
The vineyard is not a route that visitors should enter independently. Follow the Park’s current access arrangements and any on-site restrictions. Check official building openings.
Archaeological Park of Pompeii: official site guide.
View this location on the Pompeii Buildings and Places map