Roman Ruins of Pompeii

If you love ancient ruins as much as I do, Pompeii is definitely a must.
Located a few kilometers from Naples Italy, this archaeological site is a gold mine.

The Marina entrance...  This was my very first look at Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius looking down on a Roman farm reconstitution

History

The city of Pompeii was buried under ash and rock of nearby volcano mount Vesuvius about 2000 years ago. As destructive this event could have been, it also kept a still picture of the Roman life at this time. 

Over the recent centuries the estimated 66 ha archaeological site has been and still is being excavated as well as four other nearby sites: Herculanum, Oplontis, Stabia and Boscoreale.

 

What is Pompeii?

Pompeii is an incredibly well preserve archaeological site.

You can easily imagine it in its original state as you walk through the city ruins.
From the paved streets still wearing the marks of countless wheels to the counters of stores and restaurants, some parts of the city are still almost intact.
There is lots of houses that have been destroyed by the weight of ash. But there is also some that have been preserved by it.

Thermopolium (snack-bar), very popular restaurants in the city

The original paint is still on the inside walls of a lot of buildings. You can see the petrified wooden doors in the villa dei misteri. And a  seat with its solidified cushions in the public bath. The ash protected many objects from time: Beautiful pools and fountains, mosaics, sculptures, clay pots, shop signs... even graffiti on walls. 

For someone with a passion for ruins like mine, visiting Pompeii was like a dream come true.

 Preparing Your Visit

Luckily I received good tips before I got there and I will pass these on to you today.
 

Pompeii not a small site. It's 44 ha of ruins and buildings organized by blocks and streets just like today's cities. So be prepared to walk a lot.

You will mainly follow paved streets and stroll through the city just the way the Roman used to. Watch out, the pavement is uneven and slippery sometimes.

The marks of Roman carts and chariots are still visible

 It is better to plan a full day to visit Pompeii. The map and a small guide book I picked up at the entrance showed over 80 points of interests.
They are all worth to see but rather scattered. You might need to organize your visit a little.

If unorganized visits are not your thing, there is the option to go on a guided tour or rent an audio guide. It seems like a good idea if you are interested in the history of Pompeii.
However it might not cover all of the site and it gives you less freedom to explore the excavations.

I preferred freedom to explore at my own pace and without the crowd. Up for the challenge and well prepared, my visit was a success (except for sore feet at the end).

 The theater

 

 

 

Here are my suggestions:

• Good shoes
• Water
• Sun protection
• Lunch
• Map and guide

Not to make it sound like a jungle excursion but otherwise I would probably have had to turn around without seeing half of the site.

I have been amazed by the beautiful buildings, paintings and artifacts of Pompeii.

I felt like I stepped out in time. It's well worth to see and can be a day well spent if you're prepared a little bit.

A lot of sculptures, artworks and artifacts have been removed from the site to protect them from a potential eruption of the Vesuvius. They can be seen at the Naples National Archaeological Museum.
So if you are still hungry for Roman history, this should be your next stop.

As always, if you have questions please feel free from to comment and I will be happy to answer.

Enjoy your archeological journey!

Information and links to help you plan your visit of Pompeii

Here's the link to the official Pompeii web site (english version):

http://www.pompeiisites.org/index.jsp?idProgetto=2

Pompeii's Opening Hours:

 From November 1st to March 31st:
Open from 08:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last admission at 3:30 p.m.)

From April 1st to October 31st:
Open from 08:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last admission at 6:00 p.m.)

Closed : January 1st, May 1st and December 25th

Admission fees:

• Free on the first Sunday of every month!
• Single admission Pompeii, valid 1 full day: € 13,00
• 5 sites  (Pompeii, Herculanum, Oplontis, Stabia and Boscoreale), valid 3 consecutive days: € 22,00

To get from Naples to Pompeii by train:
 

You can use the Circumvesuviana trains for a very low cost (about 3€ one way). 

Take the Naples-Sorento line and get off at the Pompeii S.Villa Misteri stop.
This stop is only a few meters from the Porta Marina entrance.
Time tables for the Circumvesuviana lines can be found here: http://www.eavsrl.it/web/en/content/download-train-timetable

View of the city ruins from the top of the amphitheater