Visiting Italy's Lost City of Pompeii

History of Pompeii

One of the most popular visitor attractions in Italy is, without a doubt, the ruins of the ancient lost city of Pompeii. Buried by the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, the excavated site is a fascinating glimpse back in time to the days of Roman life in the first century AD. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Pompeii attracts over two million visitors every year.

The history of Pompeii actually goes back much further than the first century. Archaeological digs at the site indicate that the community was most likely founded sometime around the 7^th to 6^th century BC. It is also clearly evident from core samples taken from the site that Pompeii had suffered from the wrath of Mount Vesuvius prior to the devastating eruption in 79AD.

Before the Eruption

Despite its prior history with the volcano, Pompeii prospered and saw a building boom in the one hundred and fifty years leading up to the eruption. The town, which had a population of about twenty thousand residents, was quite sophisticated for its day, with a large amphitheater, an aqueduct system to supply water, numerous public baths, and many private homes and businesses.

At the time of the eruption, Pompeii was at its peak in Roman society, and the community was a popular holiday spot for Romans. Located about five miles from Mount Vesuvius and very near the coast, Pompeii was situated in a beautiful setting that made for the perfect vacation destination in its day.

The City That Couldn't Catch a Break

Life in Pompeii in the first century AD was one that required a certain amount of tolerance to minor earthquakes. Their frequency made these minor quakes nothing more than a nuisance and an afterthought until February 5, 62AD, when a severe earthquake inflicted considerable damage to Pompeii and the surrounding area.

Most of the buildings in Pompeii were damaged during this quake, and this started a period of rebuilding in the city, which was still ongoing seventeen years later when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.

Documentation of the Disaster

Historical records indicate that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius occurred on August 24, 79 AD. This account of the eruption was recorded by Pliny the Younger, a lawyer and author who witnessed the event from across the Bay of Naples. His uncle, Pliny the Elder (makes sense), was Admiral of the Imperial Navy at the time and was killed while trying to rescue evacuees from Pompeii.

Pliny the Younger’s account of the eruption was recorded in two letters, which were written 25 years after the eruption. These letters are the only surviving eyewitness accounts of the event and are considered to be of incredible historical significance because of their extremely accurate portrayal of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

There Are Questions Regarding the Exact Date

Excavations of the city, however, suggest that the eruption may have actually occurred about three months later, in October or November. This finding is supported by a number of clues uncovered during excavation, including the fact that people buried by the ash appeared to be wearing clothing more appropriate for colder weather. Also, the fruits and vegetables being sold in the markets were typical of October, while the fruit one would expect in August was being sold in dried form.

Scientists can find no reason or explanation for the discrepancy, and this mystery remains unsolved. The generally accepted date of the eruption, however, is still August 24, 79AD.

Extreme Heat Caused Most Deaths

No matter when the eruption actually occurred, the results were clearly devastating. Pompeii and the nearby town of Herculaneum were both completely buried by up to 25 meters of hot volcanic ash in a matter of hours. Upwards of twenty thousand people were killed in the violent eruption.

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Scientists have concluded recently that most of the deaths from Pompeii were likely the result of extreme heat produced by the volcano and not ash suffocation as previously thought. Simulations of the eruption have indicated that the event was likely to have caused temperature surges of up to 250 degrees celsius at ten kilometers from the vent. Temperatures this high would have been sufficient to cause instantaneous death.

Rediscovery of Pompeii

Buried for centuries, it was not until 1748 that Pompeii was rediscovered and excavations of the area began. The remarkable preservation of the ancient city is due to the fact that it was buried for such a long time and not subjected to the deteriorating forces of air and water.

Over the last 250 years or so, excavations have unearthed about two-thirds of the city. While this is great for tourists visiting Pompeii, it has created a whole new problem with an increasingly rapid rate of deterioration of the ruins.

Preserving the Site

Continued excavation of Pompeii has been pretty much halted today, with funding going instead toward the preservation of the site. While visitors are granted access to a large portion of the excavated site, much of it is now off-limits to the general public. Even with the tighter controls in place today, however, visitors can easily spend a couple of days to see the entire site, which is quite extensive.

Visiting Information

Getting to Pompeii is a fairly easy task; the Circumvesuviana train stops at the Pompei Scavi (train station). The station is approximately 100 meters from the excavation site.

The train is the best way to get to Pompeii and is about a thirty-minute ride from Sorrento, a little longer from Naples. The Circumvesuviana will cost you between 2 euro and 3.60 euro depending on your point of departure. You can also take the blue SITA buses from Naples for the same cost.

If you are driving to Pompeii there are many self-park lots near the entrance to the excavation site for a nominal fee.

There are multiple ticket options that range in price.

Operating Hours:

• April to October daily - 9 am to 7 pm
• November to March daily - 9 am to 5 pm
• Last ticket sold is 90 minutes prior to closing

Tour Guides are usually available outside the site and can be hired for a fee (does not include entry fee). Just be sure you can understand them before you hire them. You can also arrange a tour guide ahead of time if you desire.

What to See

There is much to see at Pompeii, so plan on spending as much time as possible here. There are numerous notable sites, including the amphitheater, which was completed in 80 BC. Built to hold up to 20,000 spectators, this amphitheater is one of the best-preserved and earliest surviving Roman theatres in Italy.

Explore the Grounds

The forum was the center of civilian life in Pompeii and is surrounded by many buildings, which were used for business, government and religious purposes.

As you walk the grounds of ancient Pompeii, you will pass all the normal things that encompassed the lives of people during this era. There are homes, temples, bakeries, bars, and restaurants. The streets, which are made of stone blocks, are unmistakable and still contain the worn, smooth tracks created by the carriages of the time.

Observe the City's Rich Heritage

Many of the named homes, such as the House of the Vettii, the House of the Ancient Hunt, and the House of the Tragic Poet, contain impressive frescoes from the period, which are remarkably well preserved.

And, of course, as we are in Italy, there are the remains of numerous temples, including the Temple of Apollo, which dates to 575 BC and contains some of the oldest remains in Pompeii.

House of the Tragic Poet

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Unearthing Haunting Remains

Perhaps the most amazing and grizzly discovery from Pompeii was made in 1860 when excavators noticed voids in the ash that contained human bones. They soon realized that these voids were left by human bodies that had decayed.

A technique was soon developed whereby plaster would be poured into the space to recreate the forms of the victims. The results have produced a sad and compelling tale of the last moments of many of the victims.

The Garden of the Fugitives is one of the more solemn areas of the site, which depicts the final resting position of numerous individuals, including children. One can only begin to wonder at the agony of their final moments.

Step Back in Time

Certainly a walk through the Pompeii excavation site is about as close as one can come to reliving ancient Roman times. It really is hard to believe that this city prospered almost two thousand years ago and was then frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The collection of various artifacts from the site, many of which are on display, is simply astonishing. I am certain that your visit to Pompeii will be a day you will not soon forget.

Enjoy your visit to this archaeological wonder.

Ciao for now.

Questions & Answers

Question: How was Pompeii found?

Answer: Pompeii was rediscovered in 1748 when a group of explorers looking for artifacts in the area dug below the layers of ash to find remnants of Pompeii. The excavation of the site has been ongoing for almost 300 years.

Question: Is there train service from Naples to Pompeii?

Answer: Yes, there are multiple trains that run between Naples and Pompeii daily. The trip takes between 25 to 45 minutes depending on which train you take, and the cost is just a few euro.