The Archaeological Park of Pompeii is an Institute of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism The Institute has special autonomy and exercises its powers in the field of protection, conservation and public enjoyment.The Institute has territorial jurisdiction not only over the archaeological area of Pompeii, but also over other institutes and places of culture and other buildings and/or complexes, such as Antiquarium of Boscoreale (Naples); Archaeological Area of Villa Sora - Torre del Greco (Naples); Castle of Lettere (Naples); Archaeological Park of Longola - Poggiomarino (Naples); Ex Real Polverificio borbonico - Scafati (Salerno); Reggia del Quisisana - Castellammare di Stabia (Naples); Archaeological excavations of Oplontis - Torre Annunziata (Naples); Archaeological excavations of Stabiae - Castellamare di Stabia (Naples); Archaeological site of Villa Regina - Boscoreale (Naples).

In the heart of the modern city of Torre Annunziata are visible impressive archaeological remains related to the site of ancient Oplontistoponym attested only in the Tabula PeutingerianaThis is a medieval copy of an ancient map of the roads in Italy at the time of the Roman Empire. In this map the site of Oplontis is connected with some structures located between Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Since 1997 the excavations of Oplontis are among the assets that UNESCO has inscribed in the "World Heritage". They include substantial parts of buildings that stood in a suburban area to the west of Pompeii. Of particular note is a large residential villa, not entirely brought to light, dating back to the middle of the first century BC and expanded in the early imperial age, currently the only monument that can be visited. In ancient times, the villa faced the sea in a panoramic position and was equipped with splendid decorations, of which exceptional evidence has been preserved. It belonged perhaps to Poppaea SabinaThis is the name of the building, second wife of Emperor Nero, or his family, according to an inscription on an amphora mentioning one of his slaves or freedmen. At the time of the eruption the building must have been uninhabited and undergoing renovation.

Not far from the luxurious villa "di Poppea" stands the other main complex of Oplontis, the rustic villa attributed to Lucius Crassius Tertiuswhose name appears on a bronze seal found during the excavation. Built towards the end of the IInd century B.C. and subsequently enlarged, it developed around a central space surrounded by a colonnade on a double order in grey tuff. On the ground floor were the rooms used to store goods and wine amphorae, while the upper floor housed the owner's living quarters. At least 54 people died within its walls in an attempt to shelter from the fury of the eruption, some brought in the escape the most precious objects, a large amount of gold and silver coins and many jewels of fine workmanship.

Other testimonies of ancient Oplontis have re-emerged over time from the modern urban fabric, including in particular the thermal environments at Capo Oncino, below the current Terme Nunziante, and the recent discoveries of Via Andolfi, which have returned important archaeological and epigraphic traces relating to the Pompeian suburb.

http://pompeiisites.org/