Pompeii's House of Marcus Fabius Rufus to undergo €1.4 million restoration

The House of Marcus Fabius Rufus, considered one of the most impressive structures within the Pompeii Archaeological Park, is set for a full restoration funded by a private donation of over €1.4 million. The project is being financed by German entrepreneur Frank Hoefer, who initiated contact with park officials after reading a book by director Gabriel Zuchtriegel.

The four-story residence, designed to resemble Roman imperial palaces, was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Built directly atop the city's fortification walls, the home features a complex labyrinth of corridors and staircases. While the site has been closed to the public since 1980, officials announced that portions of the house may open for guided group tours as early as this coming Christmas.

Recent work conducted between 2021 and 2023 focused on structural reinforcement, while current restoration efforts are concentrated on preserving ancient frescoes, including a notable painting of Venus located in a domestic chapel. The former owner is believed to have been a high-ranking magistrate or a wealthy freedman from the imperial court.