Virtual exhibition 'The Last Days of Pompeii' to open in Brussels
'The Last Days of Pompeii' brings the Roman city of Pompeii back to life. This large-scale immersive exhibition is opening at Brussels Expo’s Terminal 1 on the Heysel Plateau this week.
This internationally renowned exhibition has already attracted over 800,000 visitors to cities including Vienna, Madrid, Berlin and Beijing. Spanning 3,000 square metres, it offers visitors an immersive journey through the final hours of Pompeii before its destruction by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
Visitors will wander through virtual reconstructions of colonnades, Roman temples and amphitheatres, experiencing the city's streets just before disaster strikes. High-definition projections, some of which are up to eight metres high, are blended with virtual-reality elements and interactive displays to offer what the organisers call a “fully digital universe” of ancient life.
Alongside the digital storytelling, the exhibition presents a collection of original artefacts and replicas from ancient Rome, including sculptures, glassware, domestic utensils, and medical instruments. These provide tangible context to the reconstructed world.
Pompeii, a provincial Roman city with a population of around 20,000, had already begun to recover from an earthquake in AD 62 when Vesuvius buried it under metres of volcanic ash and pumice. This preserved the city almost intact, making it one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.
The Brussels exhibition combines archaeological expertise with creative storytelling and advanced technology. The atmosphere is enhanced by a specially composed soundtrack, recorded with the Audiocult Orchestra and Choir. It is designed to heighten the emotional impact of the experience.
"This powerful soundtrack, together with a multilingual presentation in English, French, Flemish and German, creates an inclusive and emotional journey for all audiences," the organisers said on the eve of the opening.
Praised by National Geographic and winner of multiple international awards, 'The Last Days of Pompeii: The Immersive Exhibition' offers an encounter that curators describe as “where archaeology meets imagination”.
Tickets are available via the official website.
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