House of the Faun at Pompeii: What to See and How to Visit
The House of the Faun (Casa del Fauno) in Regio VI, Insula 12 is one of Pompeii's largest Roman residences, spanning nearly 3,000 square meters along Via della Fortuna. Included in standard city admission when open, the house displays on-site replicas of the bronze Dancing Faun and the Alexander Mosaic, while the ancient originals are preserved in Naples.
Last updated: 1 November 2026. Architectural details, building location, and admission scope were checked against the Park's official House of the Faun entry, the open-buildings schedule, and ticket conditions. PompeiiItaly.org is an independent visitor guide; verify daily building access on the day of your visit.
Why the House of the Faun stands out in Regio VI
Occupying an entire city block (insula) of roughly 2,970 square meters, the House of the Faun shows how Hellenistic palace architecture influenced aristocratic building in Samnite-era Pompeii during the second century BCE. Rather than expanding around a single courtyard, the residence pairs two separate atria with two consecutive colonnaded peristyle gardens, separating formal client reception from household service rooms and private baths.
When you walk through the main entrance on Via della Fortuna, read the sequence of sightlines from threshold to rear garden instead of looking only for individual artworks. The floor level rises slightly from the street, framing the main Tuscan atrium, the central rainwater basin (impluvium), the reception tablinum, and the deep garden beyond.
| Area of the house | What you see at Pompeii today | Original artifact location |
|---|---|---|
| Main doorway on Via della Fortuna | Polychrome threshold and the Latin HAVE floor greeting |
Preserved architectural threshold on site; decorative emblem panels in Naples |
Tuscan atrium (impluvium) |
Bronze Dancing Faun copy set at the rainwater basin | Original bronze statuette at MANN in Naples |
| Secondary tetrastyle atrium | Four supporting columns and service-wing circulation | Standing stone columns and wall masonry in situ |
Central exedra between gardens |
Full-scale reproduction of the Battle of Issus floor mosaic | Original Alexander Mosaic housed at MANN in Naples |
| First and second peristyles | Ionic and Doric colonnades enclosing planted garden footprints | Columns and masonry conserved inside Regio VI, Insula 12 |
Replicas on site vs originals in Naples
Two of the best-known artworks ever excavated in the Vesuvian area came from this house, and knowing where the originals live prevents disappointment at the barrier rope.
- The Dancing Faun: Excavators uncovered the small bronze satyr in October 1830, giving the residence its modern name. The figure on the edge of the Tuscan
impluviuminside the ruins is a weather-resistant copy placed there to show how water, light, and sculpture interacted in the reception hall. - The Alexander Mosaic: Uncovered in October 1831 inside the red-columned
exedrafacing the first peristyle, this floor composition used roughly 1.5 million tiny stone and glass paste tesserae (opus vermiculatum) to show Alexander the Great charging toward Persian King Darius III. Detaching the mosaic in 1843 protected it from rain and freeze-thaw cycles, and a detailed replica later returned the image to its architectural frame on site.
If seeing the original tesserae, nilotic wildlife borders, and erotic or Dionysiac mosaic panels from this house is a priority, pair your ruins day with a half-day at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples; our Pompeii artifacts guide maps out which objects remain inside the park and which moved to Naples.
Avoid mixing up neighbouring Regio VI houses
Visitors walking east along Via della Fortuna often conflate three nearby properties in Regio VI:
- House of the Faun (VI.12.2): Identified by its block-wide footprint, twin atria,
HAVEwelcome mosaic, Dancing Faun basin copy, and Alexander Mosaicexedra. - House of the Tragic Poet (VI.8.3-5): A much smaller atrium house two blocks west along the same street axis, famous for the Cave Canem ("Beware of the Dog") threshold mosaic viewed through its front gate.
- House of the Vettii (VI.15.1): Located one block north and slightly east in a quieter residential lane, celebrated for intact Fourth Style wall paintings, the Priapus doorway fresco, and the Cupid frieze rather than Hellenistic floor mosaics.
Combining the House of the Faun with the House of the Vettii makes an instructive contrast: the Faun preserves second-century BCE First Style masonry stucco and Hellenistic spatial scale, whereas the Vettii showcases mid-first-century CE painted walls in a compact urban footprint.
Tickets, entrances, and step-by-step route timing
Because Regio VI sits well within the ancient city walls, you do not need an upgraded suburban-villa ticket solely for this house. Compare Pompeii Express and Pompeii Plus only if you want to continue northwest beyond the Herculaneum Gate to the Villa of the Mysteries.
Fastest approach from the western gates
- From Porta Marina or Piazza Esedra (10 to 15 minutes walking): Enter the Forum, continue north past the Temple of Jupiter and the Forum Baths, and turn right (east) onto Via della Fortuna. The main entrance sits on your left after the intersection with Via Mercurio.
- From Piazza Anfiteatro (25 to 35 minutes walking): Follow Via dell'Abbondanza west toward the Forum, then cut north past the Stabian Baths or Forum Baths to Via della Fortuna. Review our Pompeii entrance guide before matching your gate to your train station.
Our four-hour suggested route pairs the Forum, Forum Baths, House of the Faun, House of the Vettii, and the theatre quarter in a single loop. Visit Regio VI during the first half of your slot so temporary crowd-flow queues on Via della Fortuna or midday building rotations do not force a rushed detour. Always check the Park's daily open-buildings list and seasonal opening hours before locking in your sequence.
Accessibility and visitor rules inside the domus
Via della Fortuna uses uneven volcanic basalt paving stones punctuated by raised pedestrian stepping blocks and high kerbs. Visitors using wheelchairs, mobility aids, or strollers should check the Park's Pompeii for All accessible itinerary before attempting direct street crossings in Regio VI.
Inside the house, barriers protect fragile stuccoed walls, threshold tesserae, and column bases. Keep bags within the 30 x 30 x 15 cm park limit, stay behind rope lines around the exedra viewing platform, and follow staff instructions when one-way circulation is active during peak morning hours.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the House of the Faun located inside Pompeii?
The House of the Faun occupies Regio VI, Insula 12 along Via della Fortuna, north of the Forum. Visitors entering at Porta Marina or Piazza Esedra can reach it via the Forum and Via del Foro without crossing to the eastern half of the city.
Is the real Alexander Mosaic still in the House of the Faun?
No. The original Alexander Mosaic was detached in the nineteenth century and moved to the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN) for conservation. A full-scale replica sits in the exedra between the two peristyle gardens at Pompeii so visitors can read its original architectural setting.
Do I need a Pompeii Plus ticket to enter the House of the Faun?
No. Because Regio VI lies inside the walled urban core, the House of the Faun is covered by a standard Pompeii Express ticket whenever the building is open on the Park schedule. Pompeii Plus is only needed if you also plan to visit the suburban villas.
Does the House of the Faun have the Cave Canem dog mosaic?
No. The Cave Canem mosaic belongs to the nearby House of the Tragic Poet (Regio VI, Insula 8). The threshold of the House of the Faun instead greets visitors with the Latin floor inscription HAVE.
Sources and review
Download the Pompeii 1-Day Itinerary & Visiting Guide (PDF)
Covering 66 hectares in the heat can be exhausting. Get our printable offline guide with timed walking routes, schematic site map, must-see frescoes, fountain refill points, and skip-the-line tips.