Herculaneum: The Lesser-Known Pompeii

Smaller and lesser-known than its nearby neighbor Pompeii, Herculaneum is a charming ancient town that is positively bursting with history (and the occasional volcanic eruption).

Founded around the 4th century BC, the town was named after the demigod Hercules and was renowned for its hot springs and baths. But it wasn’t all fun and games in Herculaneum - the town was also an important center for trade, with bustling harbor ports that kept the economy booming.

However, as with many good things in life, Herculaneum’s luck was bound to run out. In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius - the now infamous volcano that dominates the Bay of Naples - erupted in a massive explosion. The town was largely destroyed under the weight of ash and pumice that rained down upon it, and many of the town’s inhabitants (along with tens of thousands of others in the surrounding area) were killed.

But hey, if you can’t laugh at a total disaster, what can you laugh at? And so, over the years, Herculaneum has perfecting the art of turning tragedy into comedy. The town’s scenic ruins - preserved in the ash that engulfed them - make for one of the funniest tourist destinations around.

Explore the ancient streets and marvel at the perfectly preserved stores and houses that look like they were only abandoned yesterday, rather than nearly two thousand years ago. It’s like stepping back in time - if that time happened to be just moments before a volcanic eruption.

Laugh at the hilarious way the ash has encapsulated people in their last moments, like they’re all in some ridiculous game of freeze tag. See the bodies of people and animals frozen in time, as if they are trying their best to stay perfectly still so they don’t get caught.

So, if you’re ready for a good laugh over a disaster of epic proportions (or just looking for a unique history lesson), plan a visit to Herculaneum! Who knows - maybe you’ll even be the first one to catch a glimpse of a perfectly preserved ancient whoopie cushion.