Pompeii

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rkaleal
rkaleal
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Pompeii

Pompeii

Back in A.D. 79, the ancient city of Pompeii was reduced to ruins with the eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius. Today, the excavated ruins of Pompeii has given important insights into the history of the Roman Empire.

The site of Pompeii is massive - it spans a large distance and for the ordinary visitor, visiting Pompeii takes up a good part of the day. Many houses, baths, aqueducts, forums, pottery, and fountains have been preserved for visitors to examine. There are beautiful murals on the walls in baths and extravagant mosaic floors in several buildings. There is a large warehouse/storehouse in one area of the grounds that has a large collection of plaster casts of pots and bodies. The bodies are often in positions that would seem morbid or otherwise but it serves as a reminder of the horrific events that took place in the ancient times. My favourite part of Pompeii was definitely the botanical gardens which has a large collection of Pompeii-era plants, trees, and fruits. An employee/gardener actually took the time to explain to me the significance of the fruit trees which I found highly interesting.

Admission to Pompeii costs €11 although there are special discounts and package rates that are displayed on the official website. It is open daily from 8:30am to 7:30pm in the high season (5:30pm in the low season) and closed on holidays. We visited Pompeii after climbing Mt. Vesuvius during the start of Italy's Culture Week, where all Italian state-run museums, galleries, and archaeological sites are free. Therefore we were not required to pay admission at all, which was a great relief to us! Entry to Pompeii includes a handy (and thick) detailed guidebook which tells you the significance of each important structure or building. I found this extremely useful and it sure beats the cost of paying for a guide.

Getting to Pompeii is fairly easy. If you're coming from Naples or Ercolano, take the Circumvesuviana train and get off at the Pompeii Scavi stop. From there, it's a short 2 minute walk to the Porte Marina entrance.

The downside to Pompeii is that it's massive - there is a lot of ground to cover so that means you'll be walking for a good portion of the day in the hot sun (Pompeii is not shaded). Wearing good running shoes, wearing sunscreen, and bringing water is recommended. I really enjoyed walking through the streets of Pompeii and exploring the ruins (and also admiring the lovely mosaic tiles) but after two hours, I was exhausted and had enough! I wouldn't recommend visiting Pompeii if you're elderly, prone to exhaustion/heat stress or in a wheelchair. At the end of your visit, make sure you visit the bookstore. It has an extensive collection of literature and guides on Pompeii including a few scandalous books that shall not be mentioned - but it did certainly give me a chuckle while flipping through the pages!

From journal Day trip to Naples: Vesuvius and Pompeii

Pompeii

  • December 12, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by rkaleal from Lawrence, Kansas
Pompeii

If you have ever studied history, you have heard of Pompeii. Next to Mt. Vesuvius, this site was buried under meters of ash when the volcano erupted, killing the Roman residents and preserving their remains.

At the site you will see the remains of this Roman resort town. There are buildings, including homes and shops, as well as religious sites and even art--frescoes are preserved and so are mosaics on the ground. It is an amazing feeling to WALK IN history.

You will have to pay a fee to enter, and I suggest hiring a guide. It will help you understand what you are seeing. There is lots of walking involved, and the walking is on cobblestone/brink roads, so wear comfortable shoes.

I enjoyed visiting Pompeii because I love history. Also, because the ash did such a good job at preserving the artwork, buildings, and yes, even the people, it provided me with an experience a museum could never provide.

It's a MUST-SEE.

From journal Bella Italia

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