The ancient city that was submerged in ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD is Italy’s second-most visited tourist attraction after the Colosseum, attracting nearly 4 million visits last year.
“We think this contest... will be watched with a lot of interest by the world,” Italian Culture Minister Dario Francheschini told journalists during an online press conference on Thursday.
Applications for the position will be accepted until November 3 and a director will be chosen by March, Francheschini said.
Pompeii, along with the majority of Italy’s cultural sites, has always been led by an Italian citizen.
But the attraction came to symbolise decades of mismanagement of many of Italy’s cultural wondres after a series of wall collapses sparked concern, prompting UNESCO to warn it could be removed from its prestigious World Heritage list.
Before the coronavirus crisis hit in late February, Pompeii celebrated the culmination of a $113 million restoration project, paid for largely by EU funds, although other restoration projects continue.
Outgoing head Massimo Osanna – who will become the new director of Italy’s state museum system – said he hoped his successor would pursue the policy put in place two years ago of programmed maintenance “that we didn’t have for decades”.
That includes regular checks and inspections and using digitised data to help prioritise projects.
