SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Culture Minister Sandro Bondi is to name a commissioner to oversee the archaeological site, one of the most important in the world, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. The commissioner will be in charge of administration while Pietro Giovanni Guzzo, the archaeological superintendent, will remain in charge of preservation.

Antonio Irlando, who heads a regional group involved with cultural preservation, said Pompeii's buildings are falling to pieces.

"We lose a minimum of 150 square meters of frescoes and plaster each year because of the lack of maintenance", Irlando told the newspaper Corriere della Sera. "It's the same for stones -- at least 3,000 end up as crumbs each year."

More than 2 million people visit Pompeii each year. But the site suffers from poor signage and has only three public bathrooms.

Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum were buried when Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. When excavations began at the site several hundred years ago, archaeologists discovered a small Roman city almost perfectly preserved under volcanic ash.

 BREAKING STORIES

Singer sues over Nazi performance claim

Excavations uncover 15th century coins

Brain 'wiring' key to desire for change

Sweden won't extradite neo-Nazi suspect

Glitter's brick removed from wall of fame

Remains of ancient pyramid found in Egypt

Apollo 8 crew plans to reminisce

Billionaire accused of destroying old dune

Skeleton of 12,000-year-old shaman found

Human rights document heads into space

Chicago cops ready for Obama rally

Schoolchildren visit WWI battlefields

Inmate admits Holocaust con

Scientists work on extended Arctic history

NASA airs HD feeds of anniversary video

Study: Climate change effects vary greatly

Canada revokes citizenship of Nazi, 84

Island DNA tested for Libya link

African spirit object found in Annapolis

Ancient columns found in Italy