Google plans to launch virtual trips to Pompeii, Italy Dec 06, 2009

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Google, the technology giant, has recently included interactive photographs of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in its Street View online application. People at the Ministry of Culture in Italy hope that this step by Google will influence positively on the tourist interest with regard to the ancient city, according to the ANSA information agency. Among the Pompeii ruins available on Street View there are many statues, temples, and theaters. The city of Pompeii was covered by volcanic dust, after the Vesuvius eruption in 79 A.D. Scientists have discovered the city only in the 18th Century, and it was exceptionally well preserved during all those years under a layer of dust. Today we can witness many items from that period, including some buildings, frescoes, mosaics, silver items, and many other artifacts.

"The possibility of taking a virtual tour of Pompeii will bring considerable benefits to the development of Italian tourism" – states Mario Resca, the head of the Cultural Heritage Preservation department, informs ANSA agency. Launched in 2007, the Google Street View app is an integral part of the Google Maps web-application family, offering panoramic views of streets in over 100 cities of the world. Along with other attractions and tourist destinations "couch travelers" can visit the English Stonehenge using the same Street View application from Google.