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AlUla Arts Festival Offers Unique Blend of Art and Culture

The festival features a comprehensive art program. SPA
The festival features a comprehensive art program. SPA
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AlUla Arts Festival Offers Unique Blend of Art and Culture

The festival features a comprehensive art program. SPA
The festival features a comprehensive art program. SPA

The fourth AlUla Arts Festival, which kicked off this week, offers a unique blend of art and culture amid the breathtaking landscapes of the AlUla Oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia.
Running until February 22, the festival brings together a diverse array of Saudi and international artists to showcase works inspired by AlUla's rich heritage. Through captivating performances, photography exhibits, musical displays, and cinematic experiences, the festival offers visitors a multi-sensory journey of discovery, exploring AlUla's stunning vistas and enchanting sounds.
The festival features a comprehensive art program, with exhibitions hosted in iconic locations like Wadi AlFann, meaning "Valley of the Arts," and AlJadidah Arts District, where renowned international artists will also present solo exhibitions.
The festival reflects the Royal Commission for AlUla's vision to establish AlUla as a global hub for cultural and artistic exchange. Visitors can enjoy a range of unique experiences and participate in community-focused events and family-friendly activities.

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Ancient Pompeii Excavation Uncovers Lavish Private Bath Complex

A recently discovered complex in the ancient city of Pompeii is seen, in Pompeii, Italy, in this undated handout picture released on January 17, 2025. (Pompeii Archeological Park/ Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via Reuters)
A recently discovered complex in the ancient city of Pompeii is seen, in Pompeii, Italy, in this undated handout picture released on January 17, 2025. (Pompeii Archeological Park/ Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via Reuters)
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Ancient Pompeii Excavation Uncovers Lavish Private Bath Complex

A recently discovered complex in the ancient city of Pompeii is seen, in Pompeii, Italy, in this undated handout picture released on January 17, 2025. (Pompeii Archeological Park/ Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via Reuters)
A recently discovered complex in the ancient city of Pompeii is seen, in Pompeii, Italy, in this undated handout picture released on January 17, 2025. (Pompeii Archeological Park/ Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via Reuters)

Archaeologists have unearthed a lavish private bath complex in Pompeii, highlighting the wealth and grandeur of the ancient Roman city before it was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, the site said on Friday.

The baths, featuring hot, warm and cold rooms, could host up to 30 guests, allowing them to relax before heading into an adjacent, black-walled banquet hall, decorated with scenes from Greek mythology.

The complex lies inside a grand residence that has been uncovered over the last two years during excavations that have revealed the opulent city's multifaceted social life before Vesuvius buried it under a thick, suffocating blanket of ash.

A central courtyard with a large basin adds to the splendor of the house, which is believed to have been owned by a member of Pompeii's elite in its final years.

"This discovery underscores how Roman houses were more than private residences, they were stages for public life and self-promotion," said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

Zuchtriegel said the layout recalled scenes from the Roman novel "The Satyricon", where banquets and baths were central to displays of wealth and status.

Decorated with frescoes, the complex draws inspiration from Greek culture, emphasizing themes of leisure and erudition.

"The homeowner sought to create a spectacle, transforming their home into a Greek-style palace and gymnasium," Zuchtriegel said.

The remains of more than 1,000 victims have been found during excavations in Pompeii, including two bodies inside the private residence with the bathhouse - a woman, aged between 35-50, who was clutching jewellery and coins, and a younger man.

The discovery of their bodies was announced last year.