Italy’s ancient city Pompeii reopens its ruins to public post-COVID-19 lockdown

Italy's archaeological site Pompeii has partly reopened to the public after shutting down for over two months amid lockdown measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

A visitor walks across the archeological site of Pompeii. The ancient Roman city buried in an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and later unearthed, is ready to rise again from the catastrophe of the coronavirus pandemic.

The sprawling archaeological site reopened to tourists on Tuesday after a closure of more than two-and-a-half months that froze the local economy much as the eruption nearly 2,000 years ago froze the city in time.

“History has shown us that Pompeii is a resilient city par excellence,” said Massimo Osanna, head of the Pompeii archaeological park. “It has overcome catastrophes, earthquakes, eruptions, botched archaeological digs and illegal digs. It has shown that things can rise up from their ashes,” he said at the re-opening.

Mask wearing visitors were asked to queue in special circles to ensure social distancing, offered hand sanitiser and had their temperature checked before entering the site.

Visitors walk across the archeological site of Pompeii at the bottom of the Mount Vesuvius volcano (Rear).

People visit the archeological site of Pompeii.

Visitors at the archeological site of Pompeii.

Two women take a selfie as they visit the archeological site of Pompeii.

The Casa degli Amorini Dorati (House of the Golden Cupids), at the archeological site of Pompeii.

A view shows the bell tower of the sanctuary of the Madonna of Pompeii from the archeological site of Pompeii.

People wearing a face mask visit the archeological site of Pompeii.

A view shows the archeological site of Pompeii.

People visit the archaeological site of Pompeii.

A woman at the House of Giulia Felice (Julia Felix), at the archaeological site of Pompeii.

Visitors enter the Casa degli Amorini Dorati (House of the Golden Cupids), at the archeological site of Pompeii.