The Ruins of Pompeii are one of the most visited sites in all of Italy. The once flourishing Roman town can be found near the modern city of Naples in the Campania region.
Ancient Pompeii was believed to be partially covered with ashes during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, and was hidden to the world for 1700 years. The discovery of the ruins was made during an excavation initiative in 1748. This UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts millions of tourists every year. What makes this ancient settlement stand out is it’s one of the few in the world that reveal intricate details of Roman living two thousand years ago.
Accessing the Ruins
The ruins or Pompeii Scavi currently sits just around the modern village of Pompeii. Naples and Sorrento are the usual entry points to this attraction. There is the train that covers the Circumvesuviana Napoli-Sorrento line, which stops at these cities and takes you to the excavation site in about 40 minutes. You should remember to get off at the Pompeii Scavi station, which is approximately 50 meters away from the site entrance.
If you stop at Pompeii Sanctuario, you will reach the modern town. You can still reach the ruins by walking through this town, also the journey on foot can be tiresome and take time. As an alternative, you may also take a bus service from Naples, with the same cost as the train.
A visit to the city requires a government issued ticket that can provide access to the site for one or three days. You may also buy a ticket that allows you to explore other ancient sites within the area. If you wanted to become more educated about the ruins, you can find a number of tour guides willing to provide their services near the entrance. To maximize your visit to the site, make use of a map or book to guide you through the essential sections. A booklet is typically issued together with the ticket, but they may sometimes be in Italian.
Fascinating Sections
The Ruins of Pompeii is an outdoor museum that is ideal for walking tours. The journey can be exhausting because you will be walking on uneven roads filled with grooves. Thus, it is important that you bring comfortable footwear, sufficient water and necessary protection from the sun, especially during summer time.
One of the most interesting things you can see on the site, are the plaster reproductions of the inhabitants in ancient Pompeii, which effectively depicts how the population was caught off guard and met their doom on the streets.
It is also equally fascinating to visit the structures and streets that remain intact after the volcanic eruption. Some of the intriguing sections that are worth exploring are the Forum, Temple of Apollo, amphitheatre, and Lupanar. The amphitheater is the earliest surviving of its kind in Italy and was used for gladiator battles and other public events.
The Forum is the former center of the Pompeii and is surrounded by important political, business and religious buildings. The Temple of Apollo houses the oldest items that date all the way back to 575 BC. Lupanar is an ancient brothel house equipped with private rooms adorned with pornographic paintings.
Pompeii is an amazing visual experience and a delight to visit, explore and photograph. Be sure to leave ample time in your itinerary to experience these remarkable ruins.
