Pompeii begins house restoration on 20 October

Pompeii (Pompei) began restoring the House of Marcus Fabius Rufus on 20 October 2026, giving the long-closed residence a new place in the archaeological park’s visitor plans. The announcement concerns the ancient city near Naples, Italy, and includes the possibility of a partial opening for guided groups by Christmas.

Pompeii restoration targets a long-closed residence

The restoration is funded by the private company PompeiAR, whose owner Frank Hoefer agreed the sponsorship with Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. The project focuses on the frescoes inside the residence, including the Venus of Pompeii in a space described as a ritual chapel.

The House of Marcus Fabius Rufus has been inaccessible to the public since 1980. The park’s stated plan is to carry out an initial partial opening by Christmas, with guided group visits rather than unrestricted access to the whole complex. Digital technology is also being developed to help explain the building’s complicated layout.

The announcement placed the restoration in a wider effort to preserve and improve access to one of the site’s major ancient homes. Its funding comes from one private sponsor, while the Archaeological Park remains responsible for the conservation project and the public presentation of the ruins. The 20 October restoration announcement identifies the house, the sponsor and the planned guided opening.

Four levels connect Pompeii home to ancient walls

The residence stands along the edge of Pompeii’s ancient fortifications and preserves as many as four levels. Corridors, staircases and passageways connect formal rooms with service areas, creating a structure that differs from a single-level house route.

The building was inspired by the imperial palaces of Rome and has large windows overlooking the Gulf of Naples. Structural stabilisation and excavation work carried out by the park between 2021 and 2023 preceded the current fresco restoration. Those earlier works matter for visitors because the proposed opening concerns a building that has been unavailable for decades, not a routine change to an already accessible route.

Pompeii was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, and excavations have progressively exposed the Roman city since the eighteenth century. The archaeological site became part of the UNESCO World Heritage property in 1997. The UNESCO World Heritage record places Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata within the same listed archaeological area.

Restoration links frescoes with a future guided route

The work connects conservation with a possible visitor experience: the chapel frescoes and the building’s four-level arrangement are both part of what future guided groups may encounter. Until the park confirms the partial opening in a later notice, the residence should be treated as closed to ordinary visitors.

Visiting Pompeii: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The restoration was announced on 20 October 2026 at the House of Marcus Fabius Rufus within the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
• The house remained inaccessible to visitors from 1980, and only a partial opening for guided groups was planned by Christmas.
• Pompeii is near Naples in southern Italy, within the archaeological park that also manages other Vesuvian sites.
• The House of Marcus Fabius Rufus has four levels linked by corridors, staircases and passageways, so any future route will involve a complex interior layout.

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Frequently asked questions about Pompeii

What has changed at Pompeii?

Restoration of the House of Marcus Fabius Rufus was announced on 20 October 2026, with work focused on its frescoes and a partial guided opening planned by Christmas.

Where is Pompeii and how do you get there?

Pompeii is near Naples in southern Italy and is served by the archaeological park’s access network around the ancient city.

What is Pompeii?

Pompeii is an ancient Roman city buried by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage property inscribed in 1997.