Pompeii

The modern town of Pompei (with one i), near Naples in the Campania region of Italy, is famous for the archeological site of the ancient city of Pompeii.

Pompeii has been a popular tourist destination for 250 years; it was on the itinerary of The Grand Tour. You can spend a whole day exploring this fascinating site. Be sure to plan for at least 3 or 4 hours.

The city of Pompeii, along with Herculaneum, was destroyed and completely buried during a 2-day-long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius in the year AD 79. The eruption buried Pompeii under 4 to 6 metres of ash and pumice. It was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1749. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2.5 million visitors every year.

The objects buried beneath Pompeii were remarkably well-preserved for almost two thousand years. The lack of air and moisture allowed for the objects to remain underground with little to no deterioration, which meant that, once excavated, the site had a wealth of sources and evidence for analysis, giving remarkable detail into the lives of the Pompeiians. Unfortunately, once exposed, Pompeii has been subject to both natural and man-made forces which have rapidly increased their rate of deterioration. Conservation is a constant concern.

The eruption of the volcano captured a moment in time. You will see the streets, buildings, art and graffiti, and every-day items used by the people of ancient Pompeii. And, you will even see some of those people, plaster casts of people, and animals in their last moments of life.

Herculaneum is also worth exploring, as it was a very different kind of town. Pompeii was a commercial centre, whereas Herculaneum was a resort town.