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The exhibition recognised as Best Historical Exhibition 2024 by National Geographic is now open in Barcelona
Experience the most immersive event of the moment: The Last Days of Pompeii, already seen by more than 850,000 people worldwide, now at the Ideal Montjuïc cultural centre from 20 March to 29 June.
The story of Pompeii is no longer just a still image in textbooks—it becomes an experience to be explored with all the senses. This is brought to life in the immersive exhibition The Last Days of Pompeii, recognised as Best Historical Exhibition 2024 by National Geographic and visited by over 850,000 people around the world.
From 20 March to 29 June, Barcelona hosts this event, offering a journey back in time to discover what life was like in one of the Roman Empire’s most prosperous cities before the catastrophe that turned it into one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites.
The exhibition, set up at the Ideal Montjuïc cultural centre, combines virtual reality technology, traditional exhibition spaces, and digital reconstructions to recreate the atmosphere of the ancient Roman city.
The Last Days of Pompeii in Barcelona
After its world premiere in Madrid in 2023, The Last Days of Pompeii exhibition has travelled to international capitals such as London, Vienna, and Beijing, establishing itself as an educational project that brings together history, archaeology, and technology.
This 90-minute experience invites visitors to immerse themselves in daily life in Pompeii, from its streets and markets to the dramatic moments of the volcanic eruption.
A journey to first-century Pompeii
The exhibition in Barcelona aims to transport visitors directly to the heart of the ancient Roman city. Through large-scale audiovisual projections, digital recreations, and carefully designed soundscapes, it allows visitors to explore different iconic spaces of Pompeii as they would have been before the eruption of Vesuvius.
The streets, villas decorated with frescoes, temples, and amphitheatres are all part of this narrative journey, reconstructing the vibrancy of a city that, before its destruction, was a major commercial and cultural centre in southern Italy. The exhibition’s content is inspired by archaeological finds preserved at the renowned Pompeii site, considered one of the best-preserved examples of an ancient Roman city.
Technology bringing history to life
One of the most striking aspects of The Last Days of Pompeii is the use of advanced technological tools to bring the past closer to today’s audiences. Virtual reality lets visitors witness scenes from everyday life in Pompeii or attend period spectacles such as gladiator combats.
These resources are combined with interactive installations and three-dimensional reconstructions that help visitors understand the architecture, social organisation, and economic activity of the Roman city. The aim is for visitors not just to observe historical objects, but to feel part of the story.
The development of this type of exhibition is supported by archaeological research and the work of specialised institutions such as the Parque Arqueológico de Pompeya, responsible for the conservation and study of the original site.
The eruption that changed history
The central moment of The Last Days of Pompeii exhibition is the recreation of the eruption of Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii in 79 AD. Using visual and sound effects, this event reproduces the advance of volcanic clouds, the fall of ash, and the chaos experienced by the city’s inhabitants.
This historical episode was documented thanks to the letters of the Roman writer Pliny the Younger, who described the eruption in great detail. His accounts are among the most important historical sources for understanding what happened that day.
Current studies on the volcano and the disaster are based on research carried out by scientific and educational institutions, including the University of Cambridge, whose work in volcanology and archaeology has deepened our understanding of the catastrophe.
The exhibition is designed as an accessible experience for a wide audience. Its combination of history, technology, and audiovisual storytelling makes it an appealing option both for archaeology enthusiasts and for those looking for a different cultural activity in the city.