In 2003, the Municipality of Herculaneum and the Province of Naples signed a memorandum of understanding for the redevelopment of the former Iaccarino school building in Herculaneum, making it the seat of the Virtual Archaeological Museum, consisting of sets and virtual reality installations on the history of places in the Province of Naples.

On 30-12-2005 the Province of Naples and the Municipality of Herculaneum set up the C.I.V.E.S Foundation for the management of the Virtual Archaeological Museum and related cultural services. The MAV was inaugurated on 9 July 2008. In May 2009 the Campania Region joined the C.i.v.e.s.