Pompeii was an ancient city in the Campania region now considered the Naples area of Italy. This city is well-known due to being preserved from the ash that coated it from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The eruption led to the ruin of multiple settlements in this area. Today, Pompeii is a historical sight that allows for a look into history. If this experience is on your list, keep reading! There are a few interesting facts to know before going and some tips for having the best experience!

History of Pompeii

As stated, this area is known due to the eruption in 79 AD that left it buried in dust and ash. As destructive as the eruption was, suprisingly it allowed for amazing preservation of Pompeii. We are now able to see a glimpse into history through this preservation.

It was rediscovered in the 18th century. The city is set up as a grid of homes, temples, and theaters. When observing the homes, archeologists have been able to place who lived in some of the homes based on the art and items found. This provides a glimpse into the style of different homes and importance level of different families.

Along with buildings, amazingly preserved bodies have been found as well. Some of the bones are still on display today. They also utilized plaster casting to identify the final moments of different victims based on the space left from their decomposed bodies.

Why you should visit!

Taking a step into history is always jaw dropping. Especially when it is exploring a well preserved area that is nearly 2,000 years old! Some of the coolest areas, in my opinion, were the rooms that had almost full murals still intact. There are also multiple of the buildings that have atriums. Along with the murals, it is possible to see pottery and statues that have been preserved. They are actively working on this archeological site so there is always something new to learn.

One of the coolest areas was visiting the amphitheater. Not only was it in great shape, it has a more recent history. In 1972 Pink Floyd utilized this theater to create their concert film. When visiting the theater there is an area that has many posters of information related to this live concert. It was so interesting to read about how this concert came about.

The Deets of Visiting Pompeii

When planning your visit, there are a few key things to consider. This includes how you plan to visit, for how long, and other general tips.

It is possible to visit Pompeii on your own. We took the train from Naples and it was very easy to navigate. Entry tickets can be bought ahead of time along with an audio guide. There is a portion of the site that requires a separate ticket. While exploring on our own, it took us around 5 hours. This was with visiting almost every single area and listening to the audio guide for most of them. We stopped for one break that was about 15 minutes to eat the snacks we had brought with us.

There are a variety of options when choosing to book a tour of the site. We will provide some links below for guided tours!

Cost: €22, €30 with audio guide included

Time: ~4-5 hours

When to go: Arrive before opening and get in line.

Food: There are stands outside the gates and a couple of restaurants with full meals. Pack snacks and water!

Bathrooms: Multiple locations throughout the site.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible in some areas.

General Recommendations

1. Wear comfortable shoes. It’s a ton of walking and not all of it is flat.
2. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Due to many of the areas not having roofs, it is a lot of sun.
3. Pack water and snacks. And then pack extra water.
4. Get the audio guide or a guided tour. There is so much to learn and observe but it’s hard to know what you are looking at without being told.

Mount Vesuvius

If you are going to Pompeii, it is very common for people to also go hike Mount Vesuvius. Originally this was our hope as well for the same day. Turns out it wasn’t possible to do it. Why? Because you have to buy a ticket ahead of time and it is almost impossible to get a ticket if you are not going through a guided tour. There are very limited tickets for each day and the tour groups eat them up. In the end, it was for the best because we were tired from spending 5 hours exploring Pompeii and didn’t think we had it in us to hike.

So, if you would like to check out a tour for Mount Vesuvius there are links below!

Are you planning a trip to Pompeii? We would love to hear about it! Feel free to reach out to us on any of our social media platforms listed below!

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