-Europe.Italy.Pompeii-
On the off chance that you have not heard of Pompeii- It is an Archaeological dream built on the misfortune of the people who lived there when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. What resulted was a city covered in so much ash, that it remained well-preserved including bread, olives and the like. It was a thriving city with a developed community with and amphitheatre, baths and a brothel! There is nothing quite like walking down those streets and envisioning the people of Pompeii going about their daily business.
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How to get to Pompeii
Pompeii can be reached by train from Naples or Sorrento via The Circumvesuviana Railway. The stop is Pompeii/Scavi. The actual entrance is about 50 meters away. An advantage to taking the train is not having to drive in Italy (truly..)
However if you are with the car, parking directly at the entrance can be pricey – so park further away as visiting the site takes more than half the day or more realistically the whole day. You could be in for quite a shock when you pay the parking fees.
Or do what we did and stay in a Pompeii Hotel which provides free parking and take a stroll to the site. In the right season, there are many ripe figs on the trees and we ate our fill along the way.
Why stay in Pompeii?
We flew into Naples airport and depending on the places to visit, I chose to make Pompeii our base for visiting nearby Amalfi Coast and Naples at the same time being near to the airport (30 minutes away).
Pompeii is a quieter place and hosts the important sights of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.
We chose to rent a car from the airport which proved to be the only good way to cover the important sights.
Visiting Pompeii
We flew into Naples airport and depending on the places to visit, I chose to make Pompeii our base for visiting nearby Amalfi Coast and Naples at the same time being near to the airport (30 minutes away).
Pompeii is a quieter place and hosts the important sights of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.
We chose to rent a car from the airport which proved to be the only good way to cover the important sights.
Getting into Pompeii:
Entrance tickets can be bought online or inside the Park. Ticket costs 13 Euros. There are other forms of combination with other excavation sites as well. Pompeii is not a touch and go kind of visit and for me Pompeii as a focus is more than enough for an Archaelogical newbie like me.
More on tickets – entrance being free on the first Sunday of the month. Or half price for EU citizens 18-24. So be on the lookout for the special concessions!
The site covers a large area – and therefore some tips.
- Having an audio guide in such a large area is not very helpful, unless you really plan on combing every inch of the place
- Wearing comfortable shoes as the roads are paved cobblestone which are uneven, and can also be slippery if it rains.
- Getting a map is always helpful , better still with an idea of what must be visited.
- If you don’t have any ideas what to see , you can also do a guided tour which will show the highlights.
- As you can imagine, there are not so many shaded areas and therefore a hat, sunscreen and lots of water on hand are smart things to have.
- They do close some exhibits and also some streets on some days, so having a map on hand ensures you don´t miss out.
- Smart Phones are so intelligent these days you could also download an audio guide from the PlayStore for a small fee, if you absolutely must have one!
Some highlights in Pompeii:
The Forum is a meeting place of sorts for people way back then and also now.
Near to the Forum is a well-preserved Bath.
The Great Amphitheater is impressive and attract large crowds.
Next to the Amphiteater is the Great Palestra
There are address markers along the streets and on the buildings. Some noted exhibits are denoted with signs (you find the explanations on the map.)
Going along the paths , there are many used to be homes where you can imagine the people of the past cooking or going about their daily lives.
There are also buildings with preserved colourful frescoes and floorings. Very beautiful!
The exhibits of the cast, are somehow an attraction, not to sound too macabre , they are not real bodies but plaster casts of bodies . They are not at a fixed location but moved around. When i saw them they were at the Entrance / Exit.
And many many more ..
Here is a photo of the majestic Mount Vesuvius.
Special Features:
If you go in the right season, which is end of summer / beginning of autumn, there will be a good chance you will see lots of ripe Figs on the trees around. They taste super super good!!!
Food:
There are quite some tourist traps around and nearby to Pompeii, however there are shopping malls with food courts if you could get to one. Found nice Mexican style food in a chain restaurant but I’m not complaining after all the Pastas, Pizzas, Paninis…
Summary:
Pompeii attracts many many visitors worldwide every year – and for good reason – You go away from a day wandering an old site that has not changed for centuries and hopes it remains this way forever and ever.
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Day Trip Ideas from Pompeii.
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Isn’t Pompeii incredible? I loved exploring the ruins there. It was very unlike other ruins I’ve been to as you can go inside the houses and see a bed or bath. The amphitheater is wonderful as are the frescoes. How did you enjoy Naples? Unfortunately I was unable to see both on the same trip.
Truly incredible and I think even if people are not interested in historical events , its really recommended to visit Pompeii once , a living reminder of this tragic event. I didn’t visit Naples , only went to the amazing islands from there.
There are certain whose story you hear in childhood and it remains forever. Pompeii is one such place. May be because of the infamous volcanic eruption, or the ancient Roman architecture, I have a soft corner for this place. I would love to visit here once in this lifetime. But for now, I was too glad to have a virtual tour with you to the ancient city of Pompeii. The amphitheatre looks quite impressive.
Even though we live half the year in Italy, we still haven’t made it to Pompeii! I really want to visit as it looks so fascinating. In Sicily, we always have the view of Etna, so it’d be good to see Vesuvius for a change. The Grand Palestra is incredible to me; hope we get to visit soon!
Incredible. I studied Pompei in high school and was always fascinated by it. Its definately up there in my top places to visit. Thanks for sharing. Loved it
Pompeii has been on my list for long. I find it quite a melancholic place with tons of preserved history. I know that I would feel sad seeing the cast humans but at the same time, I do want to see the place that was. Your tips are very useful for anyone who wants to plan a trip there.
Pompeii is in my wishlist since long. I should really book a ticket here. I didn’t know that the bodies here were plaster casts and not original. The frescoes are just splendid. Hats off the the conservationists for protecting it so well!
Pompeii is a must and on my travel list for sure! This was a great post for information, and I will have to bookmark this, so I find it when I visit. I love it that they are still make so many new findings there. Even though it is actually a very sad place, it is also very interesting and shows so much about our past.
I am huge fan of Italy, especially its old sites. While I have been to many parts, Pompeii has missed my radar. I would love to take a day tour to its old site and see by myself how it has not changed a bit for centuries. And, food is always an added reason to visit Italy 🙂
Wow! Pompeii! This is such a mysterious place, definitely a legend. I have been to Italy before but never quite made ti to Pompeii. I remember hearing stories about this place as a child, and the volcano, and was always mesmerized by the tales told. Seems like there is more to this place than just beautiful stories – that architecture is stunning!