Events have begun in southern Italy to mark next year's 300th anniversary of the rediscovery of the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum.

The city was buried in mud when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD - and was only rediscovered by chance in 1709, when a farmer started digging a well.

More than 150 bronze and marble archaeological exhibits have gone on show in Naples.

Take a tour of the exhibition with the director of the excavations, Maria Paola Guidobaldi.

The exhibition will remain open until April 2009.
Music: 'Herald the Contest' by Francis Shaw
Photography courtesy Electa/David Willey.
Slideshow production by Paul Kerley.

More audio slideshows