In Pompeii, the dialogue between research, protection, and the enhancement of our archaeological heritage never stops. On July 23, 2026, the Archaeological Park will present an exceptional recovery to the public: the restoration of the vaulted ceiling of the tablinum (reception room) belonging to the House with the Bakery, located in Regio IX.
The magnificent fresco that adorned this Pompeian home is inspired by the fascinating mythological theme of Dionysus and Ariadne. The meticulous work of our restorers, conducted on numerous fragments recovered during archaeological investigations, has allowed us to reconstruct over a quarter of the original composition. The recovery work is not yet finished, as ongoing research leaves open the possibility of finding more fragments and completing new integrations in the future.
This important unveiling will take place at 6:30 PM at the Palestra Grande. The event will crown the 6th international workshop "Pompeii: ongoing excavations and research". Hosted at the Excavation Auditorium starting at 9:00 AM (with institutional greetings at 10:30 AM by Gabriel Zuchtriegel), this study day aims to take stock of the current excavation campaigns and share their incredible results.
The conference represents a precious meeting opportunity not only for experts but also for students, enthusiasts, and visitors, where Italian and foreign universities will share the results of their latest research.
But the figure of Dionysus, emerging in all his splendor from the restored fresco, will not only be the center of archaeological attention. The cults of Dionysus, always shrouded in fascination and mystery, will in fact be the common thread of the Park's upcoming cultural initiatives. From the end of August and throughout the month of September, a new edition of the theatrical festival "Esopop, Ecstatic Pompeii: The Dionysian city, between fury and mysteries" will take the stage. It is an unmissable opportunity to combine the admiration of new archaeological discoveries with the charm of ancient myths!
Conference Program: 6th International Workshop "Pompeii: ongoing excavations and research" (July 23, 2026 - Auditorium)
Morning
- 10:30 AM - Gabriel Zuchtriegel (Archaeological Park of Pompeii): Institutional greetings.
- 11:00 AM - Vincenzo Calvanese et al. (Archaeological Park of Pompeii): Restoration and excavation projects of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii: a survey.
- 11:20 AM - Silvia Pallecchi, Elena Santoro (University of Genoa): Spaces, activities, and transformations: the 2025 excavation campaign in the shop at number 8 (Regio VII, Insula 14).
- 11:40 AM - Llorenç Alapont (University of Valencia): The funerary area around the tomb of Marcus Obellius Firmus, at the Nola Gate. New investigations and interpretations.
- 12:00 PM - Anselme Cormier, François Fouriaux (Centre Jean Bérard): Uses and crafts of worked bone and ivory in Pompeii.
- 12:20 PM - Antonella Coralini (University of Bologna): Archaeology of the street in Pompeii: the investigation of the space between insulae I 16 and I 17.
- 12:40 PM - Christoph Baier, Albert Ribera, Francesco Maria Ferrara (Austrian Academy of Sciences): Insula VII 4: New investigations in the House of the Figured Capitals.
Break
Afternoon
- 3:00 PM - Dora D’Auria (University of Franche-Comté - Besançon): House VI 11, 11-12/7: a research update.
- 3:20 PM - Sandra Zanella (Côte d'Azur University): TransUrbs Project: 2026 campaign. Preliminary results of surveys in shops VII 5, 6, and 7.
- 3:40 PM - Maria Teresa d’Alessio (Sapienza University of Rome): From the MAPS project to the Pompeii Atlases.
- 4:00 PM - Carmela Capaldi, Antonella Ciotola (University of Naples Federico II): Excavations and research by the University of Naples Federico II in Regio VIII, insula 7: an update.
- 4:20 PM - Domenico Esposito, Monika Trümper (Free University of Berlin): The FU Berlin study project in Insula VIII 5 in Pompeii.
- 4:40 PM - Luigi Cicala (University of Naples Federico II): Research activities in the so-called Hospitium of Albinus (VI 17, 1-4).
- 5:00 PM - Eraldo Avanzo (Sapienza University of Rome): House of the Fisherwoman (VII, 9, 63). First results from ceramic contexts.
- 5:15 PM - Fabio Paolo Inesi (Sapienza University of Rome): The bronze signacula of Pompeii: from contexts to inhabitants.
- 5:30 PM - Fred Licci (Sapienza University of Rome): Ointments in Pompeii: an integrated analysis between contexts and archaeometric analyses.
Closing Event
- 6:30 PM (at the Palestra Grande) - Presentation of the restoration of the vaulted ceiling of a room in the House with the Bakery in Regio IX.
Source: Parco Archeologico di Pompei