Pompeii

Pompeii (Pompei) is the ancient Roman city near Naples that was buried under volcanic ash and pumice by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Rediscovered in the eighteenth century, it offers an unparalleled picture of daily life in the Roman world, and together with Herculaneum and Oplontis it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The excavations cover a vast area of streets, houses, temples and public buildings. The Forum, the Basilica, the Amphitheatre, the oldest surviving Roman example, and the Large and Small Theatres show the life of the city. Villas such as the House of the Faun, the House of the Vettii and the Villa of the Mysteries, with its famous frescoes, reveal wealth and art, while bakeries, taverns, baths, graffiti and plaster casts of victims bring everyday life and the catastrophe close. Show more

New areas continue to be excavated, and finds are displayed both on site and in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. The modern town of Pompei has a large sanctuary, and the villas of Oplontis at Torre Annunziata and of Stabiae at Castellammare di Stabia are nearby. Mount Vesuvius rises above the site, and a path leads to its crater.

Pompeii is reached by the Circumvesuviana train from Naples or Sorrento and by high speed train to Pompei station. A full day is needed for the main areas. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, as the site offers little shade in summer.