Photo: Giuseppe Mastrolorenzo, Pierpaolo Petrone, Lucia Pappalardo, and Michael F. Sheridan, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- Coordinates
- 40°55′60″ N, 14°31′60″ E
History and description
Nola-Croce del Papa was an early Bronze Age village discovered in May 2001 in the Campania region near Nola, Italy. The excavation was directed by French archaeologist Claude Albore Livadie, who described the settlement as the "first Pompeii".
Discovery
Archaeologists found the lost settlement after discovering the bodies of two people that had been caught by pyroclastic flow as they were fleeing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The eruption, which took place in the 2nd millennium BCE, covered the village in volcanic ash. The remains of livestock such as goats were found, and various fossils were also found as mud had flowed into the structures and preserved various foodstuffs and plants.
Findings
Of the entire settlement only three structures remained intact after the eruption. No human remains have been found in the settlement, leading archaeologists to believe its populace escaped, although not all made it to safety. The lack of personal belongings in the settlement also lead to the belief that the people were given enough time to gather their most precious belongings before leaving.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Nola-Croce del Papa».
Timeline
- 1749 BCDestruction
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Getting there
NolaTrain, nearest
1.3 km as the crow flies
Nola-Croce del Papa
Aeroporto di Napoli Capodichino21.2 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore archaeological sites in Campania
- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nola-Croce del Papa?
Nola-Croce del Papa is in Nola, in the province of Napoli (Campania), Italy. GPS coordinates: 40.93333, 14.53333.
What else is there to see near Nola-Croce del Papa?
Nearby you’ll find: Diocesan museum and lapidary of Nola (900 m away), Museo Storico Archeologico di Nola (900 m away), Early Christian basilica's from Cimitile (1.1 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 1 photos
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences