Pompeii: Journey Through the City Buried by Vesuvius

Imagine walking through the streets of a Roman city from two thousand years ago, with shops still open, ovens with bread inside, and houses with frescoes in colors so vivid they seem painted yesterday. This incredible journey through time is possible in Pompeii, the world's most famous city for being buried by Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD.

Located in the Campanian plain, just a few kilometers from Naples, Pompeii represents one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites on the planet. The volcanic ash that caused the tragedy proved to be a blessing for human history, preserving intact a unique testimony of daily life in the Roman Empire. Today, strolling through its excavations means touching history with your hands, breathing the atmosphere of a distant world yet incredibly present.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, Pompeii welcomes millions of visitors from around the world every year, attracted by the mysterious charm of this silent city that has so much to tell.

The History of Pompeii: From Roman Splendor to Vesuvius Tragedy

Probably founded in the 7th century BC, Pompeii reached its peak splendor during Roman times. The city, with its 20,000 inhabitants, was an important commercial center and a holiday destination for wealthy Roman patricians, attracted by the mild climate and fertility of volcanic soils.

On August 24, 79 AD, everything changed in a few hours. Vesuvius, which had slept for centuries, suddenly awakened with a devastating eruption. A blanket of ash, lapilli and toxic gases completely buried the city, crystallizing forever a moment in history. The inhabitants, caught by surprise, couldn't escape: their bodies, decomposed over the centuries, left cavities in the solidified tuff that today, filled with plaster, give us casts of the victims in their final moments of life.

The Rediscovery: From Bourbon Excavations to Today

After remaining buried for almost 1,700 years, Pompeii was rediscovered by chance in 1748 during construction work for a canal. The first excavations, commissioned by Bourbon king Charles III, were mainly aimed at collecting artistic treasures for royal collections. Only in the 19th century, with Giuseppe Fiorelli, did the excavations take on a more scientific character, bringing the entire city to light with modern archaeological methods.

What to See in Pompeii: Treasures of the Buried City

A visit to the Pompeii Excavations is a breathtaking experience. The archaeological area extends over 60 hectares, of which about 45 are visitable. To best appreciate this extraordinary site, it's advisable to dedicate at least half a day, following one of the proposed thematic routes.

The Forum: The City's Beating Heart

The Forum represented the center of Pompeian public life. This large rectangular square, surrounded by porticoes and dominated by Vesuvius in the background, housed the city's main administrative and religious buildings. Here commercial, political and judicial activities took place. Among the most significant buildings facing the Forum are the Basilica, the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Jupiter.

Patrician Houses: Splendor and Refinement

Pompeian domus are authentic jewels of architecture and decoration. The House of the Faun, one of the largest and most sumptuous, owes its name to the bronze statue of the dancing faun that adorned the impluvium. Here the famous mosaic of the Battle of Alexander was found, now preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Equally fascinating is the House of the Vettii, belonging to two wealthy merchants, famous for its erotic frescoes and garden with splendid wall paintings. The House of the Tragic Poet, instead, is known for the entrance mosaic with the inscription "Cave Canem" (beware of the dog).

The Amphitheater and Shows

The Pompeii Amphitheater, built around 70 BC, is one of the oldest and best preserved in the Roman world. It could hold up to 12,000 spectators and hosted famous gladiator fights. The stands, divided into sectors according to spectators' social rank, still offer today a perfect view of the arena.

The Baths: Wellness in Ancient Rome

Pompeii's thermal complexes testify to the importance Romans gave to hygiene and wellness. The Stabian Baths, the city's oldest, and the Forum Baths still preserve heating systems, stucco decorations and mosaics that adorned the floors.

The Casts: The Most Touching Testimonies

Among Pompeii's most moving discoveries are undoubtedly the victim casts. Giuseppe Fiorelli, in the 19th century, had the brilliant intuition to pour liquid plaster into the cavities left by decomposed bodies, thus obtaining perfect imprints of people caught by death. These casts, displayed at various points in the excavations, restore with dramatic intensity the last moments of inhabitants' lives: embracing families, a chained dog, a man trying to protect his face from ash.

Practical Information for Your Visit

The Pompeii Excavations are open every day except January 1st and December 25th. Opening hours vary by season:

• November 1 - March 31: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (last entry 3:30 PM)
• April 1 - October 31: 9:00 AM-7:30 PM (last entry 6:00 PM)

You can purchase tickets online on the official website to avoid queues, especially during high season. Various ticket types are available, including combined ones to also visit Herculaneum, Oplontis, Stabiae and Boscoreale.

Visit Tips

• Wear comfortable shoes and a hat: the site is very extensive and most of the route is outdoors
• Bring a water bottle, especially in summer
• Consider an audio guide or guided tour to better understand the history and details
• The visit requires at least 3-4 hours to see the main points

Modern Pompeii: Where to Stay and What to Taste

Modern Pompeii city offers numerous accommodation options, from luxury hotels to family bed & breakfasts. Many facilities are located steps away from the excavations entrance, making morning visits particularly convenient when the site is less crowded.

Local gastronomy reflects Campanian tradition with specialties like pizza margherita, born right in these territories, spaghetti alle vongole veraci and eggplant parmigiana. Don't forget to taste local wines like Lacryma Christi, produced on Vesuvius's fertile volcanic soils.

Vesuvius: The Giant Watching Over Pompeii

A visit to Pompeii cannot be considered complete without climbing Vesuvius, the volcano that made this extraordinary open-air museum possible. Still active, Vesuvius offers from its summit a breathtaking view of the Bay of Naples and the Campanian plain. The contrast between the panorama's beauty and awareness of the destructive force lying beneath our feet makes the experience even more intense.

"Pompeii is not just an archaeological site, it's a time machine that allows us to literally walk through history, to touch with our hands daily life from two thousand years ago. It's an emotional bridge between past and present that no history book could ever equal."

Visiting Pompeii means embarking on a unique journey into antiquity, an experience that will remain etched in memory forever. This buried city, with its tragic beauty, continues to amaze and move, reminding us how precious and fragile human life is in the face of nature's forces. Plan your visit to this treasure of humanity and prepare to be transported to a world distant in time but incredibly close to the heart.