Ercolano

Ercolano is a common of 54.699 inhabitants of the province of Naples.
The legend told us that Ercole, the mythic Greek hero, came from Iberia to Italy after one of his proud actions and founded between Naples and Pompeii a small city that took his name; Herculaneum.
It is a small city placed on the "foot" of the Vesuvio, at just 4 kilometres from Naples.
The city from the 6th century went under the Greeks. We can admire testimonials everywhere in Campania. Then at the end of the 5th century under the Sanniti.
In the 89 B.C it became Romans town hall.
The life continued without any important events and Herculaneum remained a small centre with a mild climate and wonderful landscape and it became one of the most important resort for holidays for rich Roman family.
The city was destroyed in 79 A.D. by a terrible eruption of the volcano Vesuvio, that covered all the city of mud, ashes and other materials that mixed with rain created a compact stratum and strong high 15-20 metres.
The ancient town started to rise up just in the XVIII century.
From that time Ercolano gave to the archaeologist many discovers. The main street is Corso Resina that connects Ercolano to Naples.
The part of Corso Resina that links the archaeological  ruins until Torre del Greco is called Miglio D'Oro because it is full of architectonic structures: the Vesuvian Villas, (some restructured from famous sculptors and architects like Vanvitelli), Villa Aprile (today a very smart hotel "the Miglio D'Oro Hotel), Villa Battisti, the Villa and the park Favorita and Villa Campolieto, important place for cultural events, spectacles and concerts.
Another very interesting place is the Basilica of Pugliano, situated in the very high part of via Pugliano, famous for the old open air market of used clothes, the oldest in Italy.