Inside the lost city of Pompeii
Pompeii is eternally fascinating. The eruption of the volcano of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE destroyed the Roman city, but also preserved it.
For almost 300 years, excavations have been revealing what life was like in Pompeii. New excavations in the archaeological park set out to preserve, stabilise and better understand new areas of the ancient city.
Ancient treasures and immersive exhibition
Archaeologists continue to make extraordinary new discoveries – large houses with elaborate frescoes and mosaic floors, household objects and a snack bar with food still in pots.
Pompeii is the first time some of these newly discovered objects have been seen outside Europe.
Visitors will see stunning frescoes, jewellery, sculptures, pottery and other intriguing objects representing everyday life.
Advice to visitors
The Pompeii exhibition features loud noises and changing light levels. The gallery darkens every 15 minutes for a reenactment as Mount Vesuvius erupts.
Visitors may bring noise-cancelling headphones or visit during quiet hours sessions from February 2025.
The exhibition also includes copies of casts of some of the victims of the 79 CE eruption.
If you have any questions, please speak to our friendly Hosts.
Exhibition highlights
Pompeii partners
POMPEII is an exclusive collaboration with the Parco Archeologico di Pompei in Italy, the Grand Palais and GEDEON Experiences in France and the National Museum of Australia.
The original Pompeii Immersive is produced by Réunion des Musées Nationaux – Grand Palais and GEDEON Experiences with the collaboration of the Parco Archeologico di Pompei.
Pompeii is on show at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra from 13 December 2024 to 4 May 2025.