ROME -- ROME (AP) — Madonna will celebrate her 66th birthday with a private evening tour of the famed Italian archaeological site at Pompeii, officials said.

Naples Prefect Michele Di Bari refuted Italian media speculation that the singer was planning a large birthday celebration at the ancient city, destroyed in A.D. 79 when Mount Vesuvius erupted. But he confirmed Madonna was planning a private evening tour on Friday that was purely cultural in nature .

“She adores Pompeii, loves the archaeological site, and is excited to visit,” he told reporters Tuesday.

For decades, archaeologists have been uncovering the ruins of Pompeii, regularly unearthing beautifully preserved frescoes, pottery and, just this week, a new set of human remains.

Madonna, whose family originates from Italy's Abruzzo region, has been in Italy for a few days, reportedly as a guest of designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

On Tuesday evening, she was spotted taking an evening stroll in the Ligurian resort of Portofino clad in black lace and carrying an umbrella. She later dined with her two daughters and entourage at Portofino’s renowned Puny Restaurant on the main piazza.

Madonna concluded her respective “Celebration Tour” in May with a free performance on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.

An email to Madonna’s publicist was not immediately returned.