At last, a declaration of hope for Pompeii

The Italian Government has declared a state of emergency at the Pompeii archaeological site as it tries to rescue one of the world's most important cultural treasures from decades of neglect. A special commissioner will be appointed for the ancient Roman city buried by an eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in AD79. Archaeologists and historians have long complained about the poor upkeep of Pompeii, dogged by mismanagement, rubbish and looting. About 2.5 million tourists visit each year, making it one of Italy's most popular attractions. Many have expressed shock at the site's decay. The state of emergency allows for extra money and special measures to be taken to protect the site. Got news tips for us? Send photos, videos & tip-offs to 0406 THE AGE (0406 843... [read full story]