But experts say Pompeii needs meticulous daily maintenance rather than one-off interventions.

"The real problem here is that they start work, spend only a bit of money and waste it because the work never gets finished," said Antonio Irlando, who heads an independent observatory for the conservation of the artistic heritage of the Naples region.

"The root of the problem is a lack of vision and organization in the overall management ... This way Pompeii is heading towards inevitable destruction."

Overlooking the site's entrance, the Antiquarium museum has been shut for restoration works for nearly 30 years.

Its contents - terracotta vases, statues and other artefacts - gather dust in what was once the granary, with tourists peering through the padlocked gates for a glimpse.

Vandalism, thefts and overcrowding have also taken their toll. Poor surveillance means visitors can easily cart away antiquities as souvenirs, carve their initials on 2,000-year-old walls or extinguish their cigarettes on ancient mosaics.

(China Daily via agencies July 21, 2008)