The Streets of Pompeii

Located 5 miles from the city of Napoli, Italy, Mount Vesuvius is one of the most famous active volcanoes in the world. Its most famous eruption took place in the year 79 A.D., when life came to a permanent standstill in one of the most active and splendid Roman centres, Pompeii.

One of the first things we did when we got to the city of Napoli, Italy was visit Pompeii. Despite the heat and humidity, while wandering the streets of Pompeii, past the former shops, baths, gardens, apartments and theatres, it was easy to get a sense of everyday life in the ancient city.

Mount Vesuvius erupted with tremendous force and little warning. Most Pompeiians had plenty of time to flee. For those who stayed behind, however, conditions soon grew worse. As more and more ash fell, it clogged the air, making it difficult to breathe. Within 24 hours, the city of Pompeii was completely buried under metres of volcanic debris.

Two thousand people died, and the city was abandoned for almost as many years. The city remained mostly untouched until 1748, when a group of explorers looking for ancient artifacts arrived in area and began to dig. They were surprised to find that the ashes and debris from the eruption acted as the perfect preservative - underneath, Pompeii was almost exactly as it had been 2,000 years before. Its buildings were intact, skeletons were frozen right where they’d fallen and everyday objects littered the streets.

Pompeii is one of the most significant proofs of Roman civilization and provides outstanding information on the art, customs, trades and everyday life of the past. 

Today, 600,000 people live at the base of Mount Vesuvius, in the region known as the "red zone", or area that would be most directly affected by an eruption. Geologists and volcanologists who study Mount Vesuvius agree that it is overdue for an explosion and therefore continuously monitor its activity.

Know before you go:

+  Pompeii is about 150 miles south of Rome, an easy day trip.

+  The site is large, plan on spending at least 2 to 3 hours touring the city.

+  The whole site is very exposed with minimal shade, so bring lots of sunscreen, a hat and water. 
+  There are several water fountains throughout the city to refill a water bottle.

+  There is a small area outside, near the parking lot, that sells touristy things, snacks and cold drinks.

+  Maps and guides of Pompeii are available in several languages at the gate.

Admission (Pompeii site only): € 13,00
Peak hours: April 1 to October 31 - 9.00am-7:30pm (last entrance 6:00pm)
Off peak hours: November 1 to March 31 - 8:30am - 5:00pm (last entrance 3:30pm)

Have you ever been to Pompeii?

Read more about our trip to Italy here:

Mystery Trip Recap  |  Food of Italy  |  When in Rome...