Oplontis, Poppae's Villa, Naples - lighting by iGuzzini

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Once covered by the ashes deposited by the eruption of Vesuvius, Roman villas are today an exceptional opportunity for study. The villa di Poppea at Oplontis has been described as one of the most beautiful examples of the imperial home (as much for the sumptuous frescoes and sculptures that adorned it as its majestic position on the coastline), thus explaining its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
According to Lorenzo Fergola, Oplontis Site Supervisor, the frescoes in the villa of Poppea (second wife of Emperor Nero) are especially important in that they document the historic periods in the construction and decoration of the building, not to mention because they are splendid examples of the second Pompeii style (especially in the older part of the villa).
The opening of this type of site to the public, however, raises a number of issues relating to perception and understanding, issues that were tackled and solved thanks to a carefullydevised lighting project.
Current role, urban context, didactic value: the lighting project addressed a multitude of functional solutions, now made possible by the latest distribution and formal technologies.
Light has been used to create a sense of vivacity that was indeed probably one of the defining characteristics of the villa, persuading lighting designers to make dynamic lighting the common denominator running from one end of the project to the other.
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