One of the most luxurious resorts of ancient Roman times is in the spotlight for a major new exhibit in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum.
The small town of Stabiae, neglected by archaeologists in favour of its more famous neighbour, Pompeii, has been the focus of a flurry of digs in recent years, unearthing luxurious villas, exquisite art and everyday items.
Some 200 pieces will go on display from 19 different homes, all buried, along with Pompeii, during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The exhibit boasts 95 frescoes, five painted stuccos and 19 bronze sculptures, as well as items of white marble, iron, glass, bone and terracotta.
In addition to its valuable frescoes and finds, the exhibit will also feature a video entitled ''The Last Night of Stabiae'', a virtual reconstruction of one of the town's most famous complexes, Villa San Marco, and the eruption of Vesuvius.
The discoveries are the fruit of a recent partnership between local archaeological authorities and the US-based Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation, which has made some dazzling finds in the few years it has been at work.
''This exhibit provides the perfect opportunity to take stock of results achieved so far and reflect on how to further restore the fascination and charm of this archaeological area,'' commented the Pompeii Archaeological Superintendent Pietro Giovanni Guzzo.
Much of the team's recent work has focused on the Villa San Marco, which covers about one square hectare and is one of the largest villas ever discovered in Campania.
The site encompasses a luxurious Roman home with its own set of baths, a large porticoed garden containing a pond, and a stunning view over the Bay of Naples.
The first Roman villa to be found at the site, Villa Arianna, is about three times Villa San Marco's size but much of it is still underground.
First excavated by Swiss archaeologist Karl Weber between 1757 and 1762, it is particularly famous for its frescoes, and once had a private tunnel system connecting it to the seashore.
Another four sites, the Villa del Pastore, the Villa Capella di San Marco, the Villa del Petraro and the Villa Carmiano are also being unearthed.
Stabiae was a haven for wealthy Romans, who built sumptuous villas overlooking the Bay of Naples there.
The younger set hot-footed it to another nearby resort, Baiae, where all sorts of wicked attractions were on offer.
The exhibition forms part of a series of events designed to explain life in Ancient Rome to Russians, with talks on food, wine, music, theatre, fashion and jewellery planned in coming months.
After leaving the Hermitage on March 30, the exhibit will start a global tour.
