Pompeii Travel Guide

Pompeii
Buried in its heyday in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the city of Pompeii offers visitors a glimpse of life as it was lived 2000 years ago. The volcanic ash and lava, which destroyed the city, also helped to preserve the ruins until their discovery in 1748. What remains is an intriguing “ghost town” complete with theatres, a forum, boulevards, villas, and temples.

Of particular interest are the elegant Patrician Villas, some of which are in an amazing state of preservation. The finest of these is the House of the Vetti, built around an attractive Etruscan courtyard and adorned with statues. The dinning room, frescoed with cupids, is decorated in the traditional Pompeiian black and red… and food is still on the table.

The House of Mysteries: Near the Herculaneum Gate, just outside the city walls, this is an unusual villa. It was a cult center for the mysterious sect of Dionysus and is decorated with murals and frescoes depicting some of the sacred and secret initiation rites of this strange religion.

The Stabian Baths: … near the center of town… is a surprisingly intact example of public baths in an early Roman town.

The Forum: This was the physical and political core of Pompeii and is flanked by the Temples of Jupiter, Apollo and the huge Basilica. As you wander through the ruins, you can try your hand at translating the graffiti and campaign slogans immortalized on the walls and columns.

The Citizens: In many buildings you will find the bodies of the citizens, frozen in time at the exact moment that they were covered with lava. Some have a look of horror on their faces… others are crotched over trying to protect themselves.

The Pornography of Pompeii: Many buildings had explicit, erotic scenes painted on their walls. These buildings are off-limits to the majority of tourists and to children… and often to women. If you are with a group, your group leader can arrange for a viewing. If you are alone, you must locate a guard who is willing to take you through for a fee.