History
Once a Roman town near modern Naples, Pompeii was buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. It was then rediscovered in 1748 and has been excavated ever since.
Description
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is now a showcase of ancient life where you can view a piazza with main streets, ruined two-story commercial buildings and residences decorated with wall murals and mosaics.
Documentation
American citizens need only a passport and no visa for stays up to 90 days. The passport must be valid at least three months beyond the trip.
Getting There
The town is about 30 minutes from either Naples or Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana train line. The entrance is about one block away from the Pompeii Scavi station.
Basics
See Resources for the latest ticket prices, which last the entire day. The site is open every day except Christmas, New Year's Day and May Day, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (or 5 p.m. from November to March.)
Article Written By Aurelio Locsin
Aurelio Locsin has been writing professionally since 1982. He published his first book in 1996 and is a frequent contributor to many online publications, specializing in consumer, business and technical topics. Locsin holds a Bachelor of Arts in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington.
