Murecine hotel excavations, Pompeii, Italy. Murecine was a large hotel of some 1000 square metres located just outside the town of Pompeii. Pompeii was a thriving town of some 20,000 inhabitants before it was destroyed by the eruption of the nearby volcano Vesuvius on 26th August 79 AD. The town was buried under a deep layer of ash, and lay undiscovered until 1599, although serious excavations did not start for another 150 years. The town's demise was rapid. Most of the inhabitants were killed, and their remains preserved in the ash. Buildings, statues, works of art and everyday items were also preserved, revealing much about life at the time. Pompeii is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.