Oplontis Near Pompeii: History, Tickets, and What to See at The Villa of Poppea

A few kilometres from the most famous excavations of ancient Pompeii lies a lesser-known but equally fascinating treasure: the Oplontis Excavations. Located in the heart of Torre Annunziata, this area preserves some of the most impressive Roman remains buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D.. It has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997.

The name “Oplontis” appears in only one ancient source, the Tabula Peutingeriana, a medieval copy of a map of the Roman Empire. The area, stretching along the coast near Pompeii, featured residential villas, public buildings and spa facilities. Today, however, visitors can mainly admire the grandiose the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis (also called Villa A), which once directly overlooked the sea. A short distance away stands the so-called Villa B, or “Villa of Lucius Crassius Tertius,” currently not open to the public.

This article aims to offer a simple but comprehensive guide to discovering the visitable monumental complex. It provides practical directions on how to get there, what to expect along the way, and some helpful advice on organising your visit.

Where is it located?

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A Brief History of the Oplontis Excavations

The first finds in the Oplontis Excavations date back to the Bourbon era, when people began to investigate the Vesuvian territory, fascinated by the discoveries of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabia. Initially, excavations were started piecemeal and encountered several difficulties, including mofete (carbon dioxide fumes) that made the excavation tunnels dangerous for workers. Nevertheless, over time, explorations unearthed remains of villas and deposits rich in ancient objects, testifying to the importance of this suburban centre.

However, it was not until the 1960s that Oplontis came powerfully back into the limelight. A series of systematic excavations brought to light a large portion of the the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis, a grandiose building dating from the mid-first century B.C. and later expanded in the imperial era. Only 300 meters away, in the second half of the 1970s, Villa B, or the “Villa of Lucius Crassius Tertius,” was discovered, famous for the discovery of numerous jewels and coins, the so-called ‘Oplontis Ori’ (Oplontis Treasures). Since 1997, the entire Oplontis Excavations has become part of the UNESCO “World Heritage” sites, recognising its historical and artistic value. Today, the most important and visitable complex remains the the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis, an extraordinary example of a Roman luxury residence, with exquisite frescoes and meticulously decorated interior gardens.

The Villa of Poppea (villa A): A Jewel Overlooking the Sea

Currently, the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis (“Villa A”) is the only monument accessible to the public. It once stood on a high cliff overlooking the sea. The panoramic view and porticoes offered luxurious accommodations and leisure for the villa’s elite residents and their guests. Frescoes of exceptional quality in different styles (II, III, and IV Pompeian style) make it one of the best examples of “villa d’otium” of the time: residences dedicated to rest, refined living, and meditation.

According to a shared hypothesis, the villa may have belonged to Poppea Sabina, the second wife of Emperor Nero, or at any rate to her family. Indeed, an amphora found at the site bears an inscription referable to a certain “Sucundus” (perhaps Poppea’s slave or freedman), which would testify to a connection with the empress’s prestigious family.

At the time of the eruption, the building appears to have been undergoing renovation, likely due to earlier seismic damage. Many rooms had been emptied of furnishings, probably to allow for the work. This does not detract from the fact that much of the decorative apparatus – frescoes, mosaics and stucco – has come down to us in an excellent state of preservation, testifying to the villa’s former splendour.

Below is a list of the main rooms that make up the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis, briefly describing each. Remember that an on-site visit will allow you to appreciate the architectural details, paintings, and perspective plays devised by Roman decorators better.

Atrium

It is the centrepiece of the oldest part of the villa and is located immediately after the entrance. It is of a “Tuscanic” type, and it features an opening in the roof (compluvium) and a central basin (impluvium) for collecting rainwater. The walls are adorned with frescoes in the II style, with illusionistic representations of colonnades and false doors.

Kitchen

It is recognisable by the long masonry counter where embers were lit for cooking food. Under the counter, small arched compartments served as wood storage. A wooden mezzanine, now lost, probably housed the kitchen servants.

Calidarium

This is the hot room of the villa’s private baths. It features tegulae mammatae (terracotta slabs) that circulate hot air along the walls and small brick columns (suspensurae) under the floor to diffuse heat. Later, the room was converted into a living room with III-style frescoes.

Tepidarium

Adjacent to the calidarium, it was intended for tepid bathing. Also originally part of the bath complex, it became a living room with IV-style frescoes, red and white panels and plant motifs.

Salon (the Large Reception Rooms)

The villa has several large “salons” used for receptions or moments of conviviality. One of them preserves splendid paintings of the II style depicting gardens, porticoes, and theatrical masks. Still lifes and images of offerings are noted among the finer details, testifying to the ancient Romans’ passion for the pictorial representation of everyday objects.

Triclinium

The typical Roman dining room was where diners reclined on beds arranged in a horseshoe shape, with a central table for dishes. The frescoes in Style II are particularly scenic, with columns, porticoes, and scenes of offerings to female deities. The floor, partly mosaic, showed polychrome geometric patterns.

Cubiculum

Small bedrooms (alcoves) where beds were often placed in barrel-vaulted niches. The frescoes still play on the simulated perspective of colonnades and open doors. Many of these rooms are remarkable for the fineness of detail in depictions of fruit baskets, vases, and masks.

Salons (Living Rooms)

Various living rooms feature frescoes with illusionistic architectural motifs, still lifes, animals, and mythological scenes. Openings often gave onto interior gardens or viridaria, creating an extraordinary dialogue between pictorial decoration and genuine nature.

Porch

Many rooms overlook long porticoes with columns, sometimes enclosed by opus craticium walls to protect the interior from excessive cold and heat. Paintings range from the III to IV styles, with monochrome backgrounds and small decorations of flora and fauna.

Viridarium (Interior Gardens)

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis is the presence of several interior gardens, some very small. The walls are painted as if they were continuations of the green area, with trees, birds and hedges illusionistically depicted. Palaeobotanical studies have helped identify the original plant species, including boxwood, oleander, lemon trees, and roses.

Monumental Pool

In the most modern section of the villa is a gigantic swimming pool (61×17 meters), a masterpiece of Roman engineering. Initially, it was flanked by a portico with decorated columns and statues, many inspired by famous Greek models. In addition to its leisure function, the pool was a central place for “representational” activities and body care.

Hospitalia

In a secluded villa sector, small rooms are reserved for guests, with more sober decorations that are probably dedicated to guests. The frescoes, usually with a white or monochrome background, hint at second-level rooms compared to the large reception rooms.

Peristyle and Lararium

In a more interior area is a courtyard surrounded by columns (peristyle), with a fountain in the centre. Here are service rooms and a lararium, or household altar dedicated to the Lari (the family’s protecting spirits). The decorations are simpler, partly because of functional issues and partly because some rooms were for servants.

Tablinum

This reception or state room has large windows overlooking an inner garden. Often used for formal meetings, it has mosaic floors and, in some cases, marble slabs on the walls. Traces of renovation work interrupted by the eruption can be seen today.

The Villa B (Villa of Lucius Crassius Tertius)

Just 300 meters from the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis is the other central structure at Oplontis, Villa B, also called the “Villa of Lucius Crassius Tertius” after the name of the probable owner revealed on a bronze seal. The building had a “rustic” and commercial character, perhaps a horreum where agricultural products, particularly wine and oil, were stored. More than fifty inverted amphorae were found there, with a system for internal resining.

At least 54 people who had sought refuge during the eruption found death in Villa B. Archaeologists have discovered valuable jewellery and a considerable amount of coins with them. Currently, Villa B is not open to the public. Still, during the summer, special tours are organised by reservation for a limited number, in cooperation with the Archeoclub of Torre Annunziata.

How to Reach and Visit the Oplontis Excavations

• Location: Via dei Sepolcri, Torre Annunziata (NA)
• By shuttle (Pompeii Artebus): From nearby Pompeii, you can take Shuttle 2, which connects Pompeii to Torre Annunziata. This option is convenient for those who have already visited the Pompeii Archaeological Park and want to continue exploring Oplontis.
  Schedules vary between summer and winter, generally departing from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (in winter) or 6:00 p.m. (in summer), with a one-hour break in the early afternoon. We recommend you check the updated schedule on the official website.
• By car: A3 Naples-Salerno highway (exit Torre Annunziata scavi).
• By train (Circumvesuviana): Naples-Sorrento or Naples-Poggiomarino line, Torre Annunziata stop.
• By bus: Routes that pass near the site are available.

Practical Information for the Visit

• Access: The visitable area covers about 11,000 square meters and has many original rooms. The main entrance is on Via dei Sepolcri, Torre Annunziata.
  
• Hours:
  • Hours from April 1 to October 31:
    Opening: 9 a.m. – Last Entrance: 6 p.m. – Closing: 7 p.m
  • Hours from November 1 to March 31
    Opening: 9:00 a.m. – Last Admission: 4:00 p.m. – Closing: 5:00 p.m
    
• Pompeii Oplontis Ticket: Priority entrance ticket + smartphone audio guide

• Luggage: Bags or backpacks larger than 30x30x15 cm are not allowed.
• Guided tours: Tours are run by guides licensed by the Campania Region; reservations can be made on site, or private guides can be hired.
• Picnic and refreshment areas: Meals are prohibited inside the site or in the gardens. Refreshment areas are located near the town of Torre Annunziata.
• Medical Garrison: Not present; in case of need, contact 118.
• Recommendations: Smoking, touching, or sitting on archaeological structures is prohibited. Wear comfortable shoes and pay attention to the uneven surfaces of ancient floors.

Tips for Completing the Visit

To learn more about the discoveries of Oplontis, you can go to the Torre Annunziata Museum of Identity, where several artefacts from the two villas are on display. Also, if time permits, you could combine the excursion with a visit to the other Vesuvian localities: Herculaneum, Stabia or Pompeii, which are rich in historical and archaeological evidence of inestimable value.

For those who wish to experience the past’s atmosphere fully, arrange to visit mid-afternoon: the sunset light filtering through the frescoed columns and gardens gives these rooms a unique charm.

Conclusion

The Oplontis Archaeological Site represents an extraordinary journey into the daily life and luxury of ancient Rome. The Villa of Poppeaat Oplontis, with its frescoes, mosaics, viridaria, and monumental pool, testifies to the refined taste of the Roman elites and their predilection for the “dolce far niente” of seaside villas. While often overshadowed by nearby Pompeii, it is a place that deserves to be discovered and appreciated. If you want to understand the imperial era better and immerse yourself in the fascination of a millenary art, visiting Oplontis will surprise and enrich your experience.

FAQ About the Oplontis Excavations and the Villa of Poppea