Pompeii’s Grandest Residence Gets €1.4M Restoration Funding

A German entrepreneur, Frank Hoefer, is funding the full 1.4 million-euro restoration of Pompeii’s House of Marcus Fabius Rufus, a four-story residence modeled on Rome’s imperial palaces and closed to the public since 1980. Hoefer said he was inspired to support the project after reading Archaeological Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel’s book about Pompeii. Following earlier structural and safety work, the current restoration is focused on frescoes, including the Venus of Pompeii in the house’s chapel. Officials expect part of the residence to open to guided groups by Christmas and are developing digital tools to help visitors navigate its complex layout. Zuchtriegel said the park hopes to attract more private sponsors to support preservation and public access.