The House of Marcus Fabius Rufus, an ancient residence in Pompeii considered the grandest in the archaeological site, is undergoing a comprehensive restoration funded entirely by a private sponsor. German entrepreneur Frank Hoefer is covering the 1.4 million euro ($1.6 million) cost of the project.
The residence, modeled after Rome's imperial palaces, has been off-limits to the public since 1980. Built into Pompeii's ancient city walls, the house features four floors connected by a network of corridors and staircases.
Officials announced Tuesday that a portion of the house is expected to reopen for guided tours by Christmas. The renovation is being financed by Hoefer, who was inspired to sponsor the project after reading "Pompeii: The Enchanted City," a 2023 book by the superintendent of the Archeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
"Restoring the spectacular residence of Marcus Fabius Rufus … is a project I find exciting," Hoefer stated in a release. "I also have the impression that Pompeii is very open to innovative approaches to preservation and public access."
Zuchtriegel indicated that the park aims to secure more such sponsorships. "This does not mean that from tomorrow on if we had 50 such sponsors we would be able to abolish the entrance ticket, putting it at just a symbolic one-euro price, but it is a perspective towards which we have to work to develop the site," he said in a video statement.
Structural work on the House of Marcus Fabius Rufus was completed between 2021 and 2023. Current efforts are concentrated on the frescoes, including the renowned "Venus of Pompeii" depiction found in a chapel within the residence. The owner is believed to have been a magistrate or a high-ranking official associated with the imperial household.
Efforts are also underway to enhance accessibility throughout the complex, and digital technologies are being developed to help visitors navigate and comprehend the house's intricate layout. "At times, you feel like you are in a 19th-century palace in Naples, yet this is a Roman house from 2,000 years ago," Zuchtriegel remarked.