With Vesuvius brooding on the horizon any visit to the Bay of Naples should include a visit to the Herculaneum area. It is unjustly less famous than Pompeii as the preservation of the buildings are generally more superior. The town was lost to sight during the same eruptions that destroyed Pompeii. Herculaneum was covered by volcanic mud during the AD79 Mount Vesuvius eruption, which quickly hardened to a semi rock material; as a result the excavations here have been much slower than at Pompeii and although the first Herculaneum discovery dates back to 1709, the uncovered area here is much smaller. A large part of the ancient town lies under the modern one, which has slowed down the process further. The findings though are quite stunning, mainly because Herculaneum is thought have been a glitzy seaside resort for the wealthy Romans and so boast villas even more elaborate than those of Pompeii. Many of the wall paintings that have stood the test of time are still quite remarkable. Also the floor mosaics are equally colourful.