Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Xavi
History
A post-neolithic settlement at the base of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii came under the influence of the Greeks in the 8th century B.C., and the Romans in 89 B.C. By 79 A.D., Pompeii was a thriving center of culture and commerce with more than 10,000 inhabitants.
Destruction
On Aug. 24 in 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted unleashing a hail of hot ash and stone that destroyed much of Pompeii. The next morning, flows of toxic gas and volcanic particles asphyxiated the residents who remained as falling ash and debris blanketed the city.
Significance
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of get directly down
Buried under 20 feet of stone and ash, Pompeii was preserved and protected from degradation and plunder for 17 centuries. With more than 108 acres excavated, Pompeii is the only site of its kind offering a detailed picture of life in an ancient Roman town.
Sites
See plaster casts of victims of the 79 A.D. eruption at the the Garden of the Fugitives, and painted murals and the famous mosaic floor depicting Alexander the Great in the House of the Faun. Visit the elegant villas and gardens of wealthy merchants as well as public spaces such as the basilica, the forum and multiple baths and temples.
Visiting
From Naples, visitors can reach Pompeii by car, bus or train. Tickets to tour Pompeii are valid for one day and cost roughly $16 (U.S.). The site is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, November to March, with extended hours April to October.
