Pompeii, an ancient city frozen in time by a volcanic eruption, offers the best insight into the daily life of the Romans. It is the most important archeological site anywhere. The eruption of the Vesuivius in 79 A.D. buried the city when it was still part of the Roman empire. The volcano, in fact, is still active, but not much of a threat. The ongoing excavations are open to the pubic. Pompei was inhabited by the Greeks and the Samnites before it became a Roman colony. However, it was devastated by an earthquake in 79 A.D. When Vesuvius erupted 16 years later, about 10 percent of the 20,000 inhabitants died. The eruption did hasten the city's decline, and it was abandoned during the Saracen raids and earthquakes that followed. The ruins of the abandoned city weren't discovered until 1594, and the excavation didn't begin until 1748, during the reign of Charles of Bourbon. Work continues today, although many of the famous mosaics and murals that have been recovered have been moved to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples. The Museo Vesuviano also has Vesuvian-era artifacts.
The first archaeological explorations took place towards the mid-18th century, and excavations soon began in earnest, but not until 1860 were they conducted in an orderly, systematic fashion. It is thought that, to date, about three-fifths of the ancient town has been excavated. Pompeii is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, because it provides a complete picture of the topography and life of a Roman town.
The origin
Pompeii was built on a highland at a middle height of around 30 ms. on the sea-level formed from a prehistoric lava casting. At the mouth of the Sarno river (at that time navigable), the city was destined to become the harbour of some countries far from the sea. The name may derive from the Oscan “pompe” (five), to mean a community of five villages, or from the Greek “pempo” that means “to send”, to underline the fact that it was a huge commercial harbour able to supply of agricultural products (oil and wine) different points of the Mediterranean.
Soon Pompeii was influenced by two populations of superior civilization, established in Campania since the VII century B.C.: the Greeks of Cuma and the Etruscans of Capua. These last succeeded to the Greek between 530 and the 474 B.C. when they conquered the coast and they became a big power of the Mediterranean. The Greeks, defeated the Etruscans with the help of the Syracusans, held Pompeii up to 438, when some Samnite populations belonging to the same log of the ancient Oscans, invaded the whole Campania. It goes up again to this period the expansion of the city from 9,3 to 63,5 hectares of territory, extending itself till the whole lava casting. In the IV century B.C. the Samnite populations that lived on the Apennines did new invasions to damage the same Samnites of the lowland and of the coast, by now totally urbanized. For the occasion (300 B.C.) they were forced to restructure the urban boundaries made by Sarno limestone. Even Rome, in help of the Samnites of Capua, took part to these events (Samnite wars: 343 - 290 B.C.), going out of it victorious and becoming the mistress of the whole territory. Pompeii drew from this situation a notable positive push in the commerce and in the art. It goes up again in fact to this period the frequently employment of Nuceria tufa, above all for the public buildings that were partly restructured, partly built ex - novo.
Sights to see
The archaeological excavation sites are constantly packed with tourists and have been placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Some of your top priorities here should be the Forum Baths, complete with bodycasts of those who were bathing at the time, and the House of the Vettii, with preserved frescoes. The brothel, known as the Lupenar, is also popular. Pompei also contains the oldest standing amphitheater in the world, which was built in 80 B.C. and held 12,000 spectators at a time. Some other sights are the Tempio di Apolo, temple remains built by the Samnites in the Doric style. The Tempio di Glove is a similar sight. Porta Marian is the southwestern sea gate, also worth a look. Many remains of theaters are worth seeing, especially the Teatro Grande. The Villa dei Misteri, meanwhile, is one of the most complete structures left standing, and its Dionysiac Frieze is one of the largest paintings from ancient Rome still in existence.
Herculaneum - is less famous than nearby Pompeii, but as the excavations progress, and with the recent opening to the public of the Villa dei Papiri - one of the best-known sites in this area - it is once again becoming a great tourist destination.
getting there
By Public transprtation
The Circumvesuviana Railway every half hour from Sorrento.
A round-trip fare is EUR 2; trip time is 45 minutes each way.
By car - driving distances
Amalfi: 37 km / 23 miles / 46 min.
Praiano: 42 km / 26 miles / 54 min.
Positano: 38 km / 23 miles / 47 min.
Ravello: 45 km / 28 miles / 60 min.
Sorrento: 28 km / 17 miles / 36 min
Restaurants in Pompeii
Addu' Mimi'- Via Roma, 12 Tel. +39 0818638332
Al Gambero Rosso - Via A. Rossi, 41 Tel. +39 0818638322
Amitrano - Via Lepanto 93/95 Tel. +39 0818505253
Anfiteatro - Via Roma, 109 Tel. +39 0818631245
Carlo Alberto - Via Carlo Alberto, 15 Tel. +39 0818633231
Corallo - P.Zza Anfiteatro Tel. +39 0818632523
Da Peppino - Via Duca D'aosta, 39 Tel. +39 0818504821
Degli Amici - Via Plinio, 43 Tel. +39 0815631223
Dei Platani - V. C. S.Bartolomeo Tel. +39 0818633973
Hostaria Del Gallo Nero - V.Le Mazzini, 116 Tel. +39 0818630034
Tiberius Via Villa Dei Misteri, 7 Tel. +39 0818613550
Vecchia America Via Roma, 111 Tel. +39 0818633418
Vesuvio Via Plinio, 133 Tel. +39 0815367494
Vittoria P.Zza Esedra, 3 Tel. +39 0815368166
Zi' Caterina Via Roma, 20 Tel. +39 0818507447
Tourist sights in the area - Distances and driving times
Amalfi: 37 km / 23 miles / 46 min.
Praiano: 42 km / 26 miles / 54 min.
Positano: 38 km / 23 miles / 47 min.
Ravello: 45 km / 28 miles / 60 min.
Naples: 23 km / 14 miles / 21 min.
Caserta: 47 km / 29 miles / 40 min.
Rome: 243 km / 151 miles / 141 min.
Sorrento: 28 km / 17 miles / 36 min
Salerno: 30 km / 18 miles / 30 min.
Paestum: 72 km / 46 miles / 62 min.
Castellabate: 84 km / 52 miles / 74 min.
Marina di Camerota: 149 km / 94 miles / 142 min.
The first archaeological explorations took place towards the mid-18th century, and excavations soon began in earnest, but not until 1860 were they conducted in an orderly, systematic fashion. It is thought that, to date, about three-fifths of the ancient town has been excavated. Pompeii is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, because it provides a complete picture of the topography and life of a Roman town.
The origin
Pompeii was built on a highland at a middle height of around 30 ms. on the sea-level formed from a prehistoric lava casting. At the mouth of the Sarno river (at that time navigable), the city was destined to become the harbour of some countries far from the sea. The name may derive from the Oscan “pompe” (five), to mean a community of five villages, or from the Greek “pempo” that means “to send”, to underline the fact that it was a huge commercial harbour able to supply of agricultural products (oil and wine) different points of the Mediterranean.
Soon Pompeii was influenced by two populations of superior civilization, established in Campania since the VII century B.C.: the Greeks of Cuma and the Etruscans of Capua. These last succeeded to the Greek between 530 and the 474 B.C. when they conquered the coast and they became a big power of the Mediterranean. The Greeks, defeated the Etruscans with the help of the Syracusans, held Pompeii up to 438, when some Samnite populations belonging to the same log of the ancient Oscans, invaded the whole Campania. It goes up again to this period the expansion of the city from 9,3 to 63,5 hectares of territory, extending itself till the whole lava casting. In the IV century B.C. the Samnite populations that lived on the Apennines did new invasions to damage the same Samnites of the lowland and of the coast, by now totally urbanized. For the occasion (300 B.C.) they were forced to restructure the urban boundaries made by Sarno limestone. Even Rome, in help of the Samnites of Capua, took part to these events (Samnite wars: 343 - 290 B.C.), going out of it victorious and becoming the mistress of the whole territory. Pompeii drew from this situation a notable positive push in the commerce and in the art. It goes up again in fact to this period the frequently employment of Nuceria tufa, above all for the public buildings that were partly restructured, partly built ex - novo.
Sights to see
The archaeological excavation sites are constantly packed with tourists and have been placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Some of your top priorities here should be the Forum Baths, complete with bodycasts of those who were bathing at the time, and the House of the Vettii, with preserved frescoes. The brothel, known as the Lupenar, is also popular. Pompei also contains the oldest standing amphitheater in the world, which was built in 80 B.C. and held 12,000 spectators at a time. Some other sights are the Tempio di Apolo, temple remains built by the Samnites in the Doric style. The Tempio di Glove is a similar sight. Porta Marian is the southwestern sea gate, also worth a look. Many remains of theaters are worth seeing, especially the Teatro Grande. The Villa dei Misteri, meanwhile, is one of the most complete structures left standing, and its Dionysiac Frieze is one of the largest paintings from ancient Rome still in existence.
Herculaneum - is less famous than nearby Pompeii, but as the excavations progress, and with the recent opening to the public of the Villa dei Papiri - one of the best-known sites in this area - it is once again becoming a great tourist destination.
getting there
By Public transprtation
The Circumvesuviana Railway every half hour from Sorrento.
A round-trip fare is EUR 2; trip time is 45 minutes each way.
By car - driving distances
Amalfi: 37 km / 23 miles / 46 min.
Praiano: 42 km / 26 miles / 54 min.
Positano: 38 km / 23 miles / 47 min.
Ravello: 45 km / 28 miles / 60 min.
Sorrento: 28 km / 17 miles / 36 min
Restaurants in Pompeii
Addu' Mimi'- Via Roma, 12 Tel. +39 0818638332
Al Gambero Rosso - Via A. Rossi, 41 Tel. +39 0818638322
Amitrano - Via Lepanto 93/95 Tel. +39 0818505253
Anfiteatro - Via Roma, 109 Tel. +39 0818631245
Carlo Alberto - Via Carlo Alberto, 15 Tel. +39 0818633231
Corallo - P.Zza Anfiteatro Tel. +39 0818632523
Da Peppino - Via Duca D'aosta, 39 Tel. +39 0818504821
Degli Amici - Via Plinio, 43 Tel. +39 0815631223
Dei Platani - V. C. S.Bartolomeo Tel. +39 0818633973
Hostaria Del Gallo Nero - V.Le Mazzini, 116 Tel. +39 0818630034
Tiberius Via Villa Dei Misteri, 7 Tel. +39 0818613550
Vecchia America Via Roma, 111 Tel. +39 0818633418
Vesuvio Via Plinio, 133 Tel. +39 0815367494
Vittoria P.Zza Esedra, 3 Tel. +39 0815368166
Zi' Caterina Via Roma, 20 Tel. +39 0818507447
Tourist sights in the area - Distances and driving times
Amalfi: 37 km / 23 miles / 46 min.
Praiano: 42 km / 26 miles / 54 min.
Positano: 38 km / 23 miles / 47 min.
Ravello: 45 km / 28 miles / 60 min.
Naples: 23 km / 14 miles / 21 min.
Caserta: 47 km / 29 miles / 40 min.
Rome: 243 km / 151 miles / 141 min.
Sorrento: 28 km / 17 miles / 36 min
Salerno: 30 km / 18 miles / 30 min.
Paestum: 72 km / 46 miles / 62 min.
Castellabate: 84 km / 52 miles / 74 min.
Marina di Camerota: 149 km / 94 miles / 142 min.
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