Forty years after being hit by a devastating earthquake, a building dubbed a “jewel” of the ancient Roman ruins of Pompeii has finally reopened to the public.
The restoration of the House of Lovers ― reportedly once a brothel and so-called because of a Latin inscription that reads “Lovers like bees live a sweet life like honey. I wish it were so” — was officially completed Tuesday, reported the AFP agency.
Archaeologists first discovered the building in 1933. It had been buried in volcanic ash, along with the rest of the historic settlement outside of modern-day Naples, Italy, for almost two millennia following the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
It was closed for repair in November 1980, however, after suffering severe damage during the 6.5-magnitude Irpinia earthquake that struck the Naples area, killing some 2,735 people.
The House of the Orchard and the European Ship House were also reopened Tuesday as the Great Pompeii Project ― a six-year, $113 million initiative to repair and restore further swaths of the site that in 2013 was at risk of being placed on UNESCO’s list of heritage sites in jeopardy ― drew to a close.
Check out more photos from the newly reopened sites here:
The House of Lovers was finally reopened to the public on Tuesday. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Restorers have concluded the six-year project to repair swaths of the ancient city. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The European Ship House. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: Ivan Romano via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: Ivan Romano via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: Ivan Romano via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: Ivan Romano via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Ivan Romano via Getty Images)
The House of the Orchard. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: KONTROLAB via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Ivan Romano via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The European Ship House. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
The House of Lovers. (Photo: Marco Cantile via Getty Images)
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