Celebrating International Women's Day with a Feminine Touch in Archaeological Tours

For the International Women's Day, there's a feminine alternative also in archaeological tours. At the Villa of Poppea, entrance will be free for women with guided itineraries in art and beauty. On display are objects related to cosmetics and female beauty, dating back 2000 years. This is the only monument currently visitable of the ancient Oplontis, today Torre Annunziata. The structure is a large residential villa, not entirely brought to light, dating back to the middle of the 1st century BC and expanded in the early imperial age. In ancient times, the villa was perched overlooking the sea in a panoramic position and was equipped with splendid decorative apparatuses of which exceptional testimonies are preserved. It could have belonged to Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of Emperor Nero, or to the heritage of her family, based on the testimony of an inscription painted on an amphora mentioning Sucundus, a slave or freedman of hers. At the time of the eruption, the building must have been largely uninhabited due to ongoing works, perhaps started following seismic damage, which involved the removal of many architectural and decorative elements," can be read on pompeiisites.org/oplontis/villa-di-poppea/. "With In the Villa of Poppea among women, nymphs, and goddesses, we will see, on March 8th, the objects related to cosmetics and female beauty that were used and thus for example the bronze mirrors, hair curling irons but also creams made with donkey's milk and even perfumes made with almond oil and flowers and citrus fruits. It will be a truly unique experience also with an event with characters in period costumes," explains Mirella Azzurro, president of the Archeoclub d'Italia-Torre Annunziata branch. Friday, March 8th, entrances at 9:30 and 10:30 and from 11:30. Entrance will be free for women.