ROME, May 27: Tourists will soon be offered a chance to see Pompeii, one of Italy’s most prized archeological sites, from the vantage point of a hot-air balloon, the curator’s office announced on Friday. Up to 15 people at a time will be flown at an altitude of approximately 200 metres over the Roman city, buried in 79AD in an eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius.

The curator’s office did not say when the tours would start. Authorities said they would also open an ancient tavern that had so far been closed to the public.

Situated near the amphitheatre, the ‘Trattoria Caupona’ is made up of three courtyards — one used as a vegetable garden, a second that once held stone tables and chairs, and a third that once contained a bread oven and stoves.

Visitors will be allowed in the courtyards during weekends running from May 28 to June 26. The announcements came as authorities organized a conference on food of the Roman era in cooperation with Foundation Slow Food, which has lobbied for years in the defense of quality Italian food products.

Experts and guests tasted spelt minestrone or soup, quail eggs on little toasts, pumpkin and peas, and a kind of creme caramel — all prepared according to ancient Roman recipes. —AFP