Herculaneum was destroyed, along with Pompeii, by the eruption of the Volcano Monte Vesuvius, in 79 B.C.

Herculaneum was a residential area, without commercial importance unlike Pompeii, which was full of rich villas owned by the well-to-do Romans.
Herculaneum was submersed by a torrent of lava that transformed itself into soft rock and thanks to this many frescos and objects have been well preserved and can be seen today.

A part of the old Herculaneum is still today submersed and excavations continue.