The Pompeii archeological site near Naples
Pompeii is a vast archaeological site near Naples. It was buried under metres of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.. Pompeii was not the only town to be buried by the eruption of Vesuvius: the same fate also befell Herculaneum and many other villas on the surrounding area (Boscoreale, Stabiae). The archeological excavations of the mid-eighteenth century revealed aspects of the daily life of Pompeii, as evidence of this thnere are luxurious private houses, bakeries, … Pompeii is part of a larger Vesuvius National Park and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.
The site is huge and not all of it is open to the public, so stick to the marked paths. Path 1 takes about 2 hours, path 2 takes about 3 hours, and path 5 takes about 5 hours. If you are visiting with a guide then make sure to take some time to explore by yourself afterward, because they will not be able to show you everything.
You should plan at least 2 to 3 hours for exploring the archaeological site of Pompeii. It is a good idea to combine a visit to Pompeii with a trip to Mount Vesuvius or other archeological sites such as Oplontis, the Antiquarium of Boscoreale, the Stabiae Ruins, Villa Ariana, and Villa San Marco. In this case it will take you more than a day to try to see as much as possible.
How to best experience Pompeii?
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Best Pompeii Tickets
Tickets for Pompeii: Reserved Entrance
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Tickets for Pompeii: Half-Day Trip from Naples
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What was Pompeii?
Pompeii was an ancient Roman city that was buried alive in the enormous volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D..
What is there to see at the archaeological site?
The site is so huge and it might take days to see everything. We suggest you visit the heart of Pompeian political life, that is the Forum, followed by the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Teatro Grande, the House of Geometric Mosaics and the touching Orto dei Fuggiaschi, the he “Garden of the Fugitives” where the casts of 13 victims of the volcanic eruption are displayed, buried in preserving ash as they tried to escape the lava flow from Vesuvius.
When was Pompeii discovered?
The discovery of Pompeii took place in 1748, after the excavations of Herculaneum (1738), at the behest of Charles III of Bourbon who believed he was on the trail of Stabia. The denial came when an epigraph was found which clearly spoke of the Res Publica Pompeianorum.
What were the last days of Pompeii like? Was there any warning sign?
The last days were characterized by earthquakes that anticipated the eruption of Vesuvius which was announced with a shower of lapilli and according to the most recent studies the inhabitants of Pompeii died istantly burnt by the high temperatures of the Vesuvius lava, between 300 and 600 degrees.
General informations
Useful information for your visit to Pompeii.
Location
It is located about 20 km from Naples.
Opening hours
To visit Pompeii the times are as follows:
- 1 April – 31 October: 8:30 am to 7:30 pm on weekdays and from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm on the weekends.
- 1 November – 31 March: 8:30 am to 5 pm on weekdays and from 8.30 am to 5 pm at weekends.
- Closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December.
How to get to the Colosseum
To reach Pompeii:
- The entrance at Porta Marina can be reached via Circumvesuviana trains from Naples to Pompei Villa dei Misteri, while the Piazza Anfiteatro can be reached by Circumvesuviana trains that stop at Pompei Santuario. The site can also be reached by Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane trains to Pompeii station.
- The site can also be reached by SITA bus services from Naples and Salerno, or by BusItalia routes 4 and 50 from Salerno.
- There is no on-site car parking, but there are municipal and private car parks nearby where drivers can park for a fee.
Attractions nearby
- Mount Vesuvius (9.3 km)
- Positano (13.1 km)
- Castel dell’Ovo (20.1 km)
- Castel Nuovo (20.3 km)
- Royal Palace of Naples (20.4 km)
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