Pompeii's most magnificent mansion being restored thanks to private donor

(ANSA) - ROME, 20 OTT - Pompeii's most magnificent mansion is being restored thanks to a private donor who is putting 1.4 million euros into the project. What is arguably the most splendid residence in the city buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD is being brought back to life. Inspired directly by the imperial palaces of Rome, the House of Marcus Fabius Rufus was built atop the ancient walls of Pompeii and is renowned for its façade, which features large windows overlooking the gulf—complete with wooden frames and, in all likelihood, glass panes. The restoration project, costing over €1.4 million, is being funded entirely by a private benefactor: the company PompeiAR. The sponsorship agreement was recently signed by the legal representative of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, and the owner of the sponsoring firm, Frank Hoefer. Dr. Hoefer, an entrepreneur originally from Southern Germany, reached out to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii after reading a book by its director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, titled Pompeii: The Enchanted City ("Pompei: la città incantata"), published in 2023. "I first visited Pompeii in 1974, at the age of 16, and was immediately struck by the allure of this ancient city—a place that reveals a model of social life that is, in some ways, very close to our own, yet in others, worlds apart," says Hoefer. "Visitors who explore these homes with a keen eye are rewarded with countless details drawn from daily life, art, and ancient craftsmanship. Restoring the spectacular residence of Marcus Fabius Rufus—which has been inaccessible since 1980—and opening it to the public is a project I find truly compelling. I also sense that there is a great openness at Pompeii toward innovative models for preservation and public engagement. "However, realizing the Park's ambitious projects requires further support, and I would like to help find other backers." The restoration work currently underway focuses on the frescoes—including the famous 'Venus of Pompeii,' located within what served as a ritual 'chapel' inside the residence—and follows structural stabilization and excavation efforts carried out by the Park between 2021 and 2023. The house of Marcus Fabius Rufus, along with the adjacent 'House of Castricius' and 'House of the Golden Bracelet,' is built along the precipice of Pompeii's ancient fortifications; consequently, it preserves as many as four levels, interconnected by a labyrinth of corridors, staircases, and passageways—comprising both formal, representative spaces and functional service areas. The owner—perhaps a magistrate from this town in Campania, or a freedman of the imperial household—must have possessed immense wealth, which enabled the creation of an urban villa that, as far as we know, has no equal in Pompeii. Several victims of the eruption were also discovered within the complex; some still lie in the very spots where they drew their final breath: three victims on the stairs of the House of M. Fabius Rufus, another three in the so-called House of Castricius (uncovered during excavations in 1961), and the victims found in the House of the Golden Bracelet in 1974. "We are currently working on a project to enhance the site," noted Zuchtriegel. "We are also leveraging digital technology to help convey the complexity of this incredible labyrinth—the House of M. Fabius Rufus. "At times, one gets the impression of being in a 19th-century Neapolitan palace, yet it is actually a 2,000-year-old Roman home. We aim to carry out an initial, partial opening by Christmas, with guided group visits." (ANSA).
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