Pompeii Ruins Photos
Recommended Reviews - Pompeii Ruins
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Great site to visit (been to many other ruins that were underwhelming). Our tour guide was pretty good. He was funny but a bit hard to understand sometimes. This admission was part of a combo tour including a trip up the volcano plus lunch. The condition was rather impressive. Some buildings were in great shape. As your outside it is hard to imagine you would have been 20 some feet under ground (ash) a hundred years or more ago before they excavated. Plus they have unearthed only about 30% of the city. Many amazing relics & sad displays of humanity to see here. Worth the time to visit this ancient site.
POMPEII. Sprawling at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, this ancient city's almost instantaneous downfall has for centuries become engrained in historical texts on western civilization. Archaeological excavations, groundbreaking discoveries, romantic idealizations, movie storylines have all lent to a heightened air of mystique surrounding this locale. Some logistical tips: I) Arriving from Naples: -- A) via public transit fastest is the local EAV commuter train Circumvesuviana from Porto Nolana, the 1st stop, or Napoli Centrale, the 2nd stop. Buy tickets the day of at the train station at ticket machines, for one way €3, round trip €6. A regular Trenitalia train is possible though these stop in the city center of modern Pompeii, east of the archaeological park, walkable in about 10 minutes to the eastern entrance though much less convenient. Check the schedule online; times don't always follow GMaps. I tried to get on the wrong train and the train platform staff directed me to the correct platform for a later departure. Trains get extremely crowded so don't expect seats for the 35 minute duration unless you get on at the first stop. --B) by bus, via a couple types of buses; both bus stops aren't the easiest to locate if taking it one-way. ----1) local EAV buses (#5000 and 5020) run from Napoli Centrale and other stops in Naples' vicinity to bus stop a block south of the Piazza Esedra/Piazza Porta Marina entrance on local route SS18 to the Pompeii Archeological Park. Tickets need to be purchased in advance on the app, at a bus/train station, or on the bus using exact change. They will not stop if full. ----2) by private bus: ie. Flixbus etc. I booked Flixbus online back to Naples since I heard about an EAV train workers strike the afternoon I visited, €15.95 one-way and departed directly on the side of the road (Via Villa dei Misteri) opposite the Scavi di Pompeii train station. What wasn't clear is that when you exit the park, it's via the Piazza Esedra exit so you have to walk back toward the other entrance. Also Flixbus uses affiliates so read your ticket carefully for alternative bus company names, bc you won't see a Flixbus logo. Trip took about 1.5 hours as they stopped multiple places but it was more comfortable than the train. --C) driving: probably the easiest though depends on where you're parking as the lot is very large and it can be up to a 10-12 minute walk to the Scavi di Pompeii entrance. 2) Tickets start at €20, booked in person or online by time slot. Definitely book in advance unless you have a museum pass of some sort (like a Naples Pass), then you can't book online and must queue at the ticket office which opens at 9am*. I arrived at 9:15-20am and waited for about 20min, with about 30ish people in front of me. There are bathrooms at the ticket office, one of a few locations on site. Headed straight into the park once procuring my ticket.** Tickets to the "suburban" Villa di Diomede and Villa dei Misteri are a separate fee of €8 payable in cash or card at the gate to that section of the park, if it's not already included in your combo ticket. It's not included in the regular Naples Pass access. Storage lockers are available for a fee. There's a bag size limit per their website but I did not see this being enforced. FINALLY...getting to the site itself. WOW. There is a lot to see. Barely doable in 4 hours at a brisk pace if you know where you're headed, though 5-6 hours be ideal and certainly you could spend a full day. An audio guide or tour guide is recommended though I bookmarked about two dozen individual sites on Gmaps in advance and used this the day of to guide my itinerary. Cell service can be spotty so download the map on your phone if you can. There are minimal bathroom and food/drink facilities on site, and you cannot leave and come back, so recommend bringing enough water and snacks. Reading various threads online, there's a lot of hyping up the size, I think a) bc there's a huge variety of visitors w/a range of travel experience and fitness, b) the streets are all large stone hewn blocks so it's harder than walking on a paved road. For sense of comparison, the site is about 1/5 the area of Central Park. With so many buildings to check out, I can see how exploring inside with crowds adds to the time it takes to get around. What's terrific is there are a lot of placards w/ info on individual dwellings or structures. Many have QR codes if you have decent reception. There are a couple formal museums, at the Palastre Grand and the Antiquarium. The two suburban villas north of the main site were a further walk though worth it imho, being restored relatively recently, the Villa dei Misteri with brilliantly colored frescos related to an esoteric cult of Dionysus. *Sneakily they don't mention this on the Naples Pass website or app...had to do some Reddit searches to figure this out. **20K visitor limit per day, 15K in 1st half, 5K 2nd half, but they never max out.
Walking through Pompeii is kind of surreal. I loved just wandering with no real plan. You can walk right into homes and see the mosaics and little courtyards. Even random things like graffiti on the walls or old kitchen setups are still there. The amphitheater is a definite highlight. The plaster casts are... a lot. Definitely a moment where everything hits a bit harder. It's pretty heavy, but also important to see. Overall, Pompeii actually pulls you in. You end up thinking about the people more than the ruins. It is worth taking your time with and coming out of your way for.
This was my husband's request on our trip. I'll be honest, I did not know much about this area or the story that goes with it. That being said, I was super impressed!! Not only by how intricate, beautiful and large the ruins were, but how well it has been preserved. We did not have a guide, but my husband had knowledge buried in his brain, I wasn't aware of. This is a definite check out if you are in the region. Give yourself a few hours to explore.
I took a tour from Rome that went from Sorrento to here. It was a cute little town. We didn't even get through most of the park and we had a guide, which allowed us to hit some of the highlights and hear fun facts. I was surprised at how well preserved everything is and it was one of the places I was fascinated with growing up (in which some of the myths I had previously had were debunked here). Since it's a UNESCO site, it's also free on the first Sunday of the month (like the Colosseum). They have a little museum on-site too. 2025 #61
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii is one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world. Located near modern-day Naples, Italy, it was destroyed and buried under ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., preserving its buildings and artifacts for future generations to explore. Of course you need to do this tour, and wear good comfy shoes, you have no idea how beautiful and large this place is. But breathtakingly beautiful. We'd highly recommend a tour guide when visiting, there is so much to learn and you'll have so many questions. We took it as a day trip from Rome which is considered a 13-14 hour day. You stop for breathtaking photos in Sorento Italy and stop at the Amalfi Coast to put your feet in the water, shop, get something to eat then off to Pompeii Ruins for a spectacular tour group. You won't be disappointed.
Wow Pompeii was amazing, a whole city buried under 10 feet of volcanic ash and people frozen in time or the plaster made of themselves. I enjoyed my time here although it was short because I was on tour, but you could spend days here exploring everything and still can't see everything! Seeing the plaster people frozen in time as they slept was amazing. I didn't have time to check out Musuem. So if you do come, come without a group tour, as you will miss out on a lot of things. But I enjoyed my time here! I still look back at my photos. Such memories. A trip of a lifetime for sure!
One of the best experiences I've ever had. We had an archaeologist-led private tour and couldn't have asked for more. Amazing history, absolutely huge - I didn't understand the scale of Pompeii until we were there. Worth the trip to Napoli to visit Pompeii alone! Spectacular 10/10 highly recommend!!
Pompeii is near Naples in the Campania region of Italy. We were so glad that we had an opportunity to go on a special tour there. 2.5+ million people visit it yearly! The history is that it was buried under 13-20 feet of volcanic ash & pumice the moment when Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Most of the city was destroyed but remnants still exist like the frescos on walls in some of the villas & buildings (see my video), an amphitheater, a forum, bakeries, and baths that are located within 9 districts. It is a world UNESCO site that is the only archeological site that provides the true picture of an ancient Roman city. It's a fascinating place to visit!
Pictures don't do it justice, these ruins are amazing and I was blown away by how large the area really is. I can't imagine how they even created these structures so long ago and probably with limited tools. In the stone laid streets themselves you can see the markings of where chariot wheels wore divots. They actually had a place to get food (kind of like a fast food setup) and of course bath houses.Really enjoyed our excursion here but definitely needed at least three hours.
Pompeii is an absolute must if you're in the Naples or Amalfi areas. The famous ancient city that was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Came from Sorrento which was about an hour ride on the Circumvesuviana train. You could honestly spend an entire day here. Much bigger than I expected. Personally, the best way to explore in my opinion is to go without a map and just chart your own course of self discovery. Pompeii is really cool because you get to see the remnants of what life was like then. The society was also quite sophisticated which is cool. You'll see irrigations systems, homes, theatres, signs, community buildings and more. There's also some signage around to help you understand what it is you're exploring. Even though the city is a huge tourist attraction, because it's so big, it never felt like it was too crowded. Still, I recommend going first thing in the AM if you can. There is an area for food, drinks, and bathroom on site if needed. There's also a number of tourist catering restaurants right around the area too if you need something before or after.
I grew up learning about Pompeii in school. We all know the story. The massive volcano that erupted which caused mass devastation in the city of Pompeii. The residents at the time did not believe they would be harmed by Mount Vesuvius. Boy were they wrong! The scene of this natural disaster is an example of history frozen in time. And for a history nut like me, an incredible experience. Pro tip: reserve your ticket online at least two weeks in advance. This will allow you to skip the line and also potentially having to pay significantly more if tickets sell out by buying them through a third party. Preparation is key! There are several entrances to the ruins and make sure to stay away from randos at the entrance trying to trick you into buying things. I showed up right when they opened and spent the entire day there until they closed. And by doing that, I only saw roughly 75% of the ruins. That puts into perspective the scale of what you can see. I paid a little extra for an audio guide which I recommend. You'll learn a lot more this way. You can also get a map to plan your day. You'll see a lot of ruins. You'll see the remains of people preserved at the time of their death. Which is a jarring experience. There's so much to explore. If you get hungry, they have several spots where you can grab a bite to eat or drink. They also have some free water but it's not widespread so make sure to bring plenty on your own. I had a water pack in my backpack. It's likely going to be very hot while you're there and there isn't a lot of shade. So make sure to stay hydrated and bring sunscreen. Pompeii is a short trip from Rome and an essential visit while you're in Italy. There isn't a ton to see in the city outside of the ruins but like I mentioned earlier, given the scale, you can easily spend anywhere from one to three days exploring.
Absolutely amazing tour of archaeological site which predate Christ by a few hundred years! The tour is led by a professional history expert and the experience is absolutely enthralling from beginning to end. Truly amazing to experience the well preserved and restored lands of a roman town with a story that is truly amazing. It does get a bit hot in the summer though which is when we visited (July 2026) so I recommend bringing as much tools to help you with the heat such as cooling towels or ice water, hats, shades, sun screen. There is a cafe at the end of the tour which is nice and clean restrooms. I am awarding 5 stars because truly anything less is disrespectful and undeserved for this amazing site made available to the public. Highlight of Pompeii! read more
2 months ago
Visiting Pompeii Archaeological Park was like stepping back in time. I loved wandering the ancient streets and learning about the history of this incredible place. It was both fascinating and emotional. Walking the same paths people traveled nearly 2,000 years ago was surreal, but seeing the casts of the victims who were preserved by the eruption brought tears to my eyes. It was a powerful reminder of the human tragedy that occurred there. Be prepared for a lot of walking, and some of the cobblestone paths can be rough and uneven in spots, so comfortable shoes are a must. Despite that, it was a truly amazing and unique experience that I'll never forget. If you love history, this is one of those places that leaves a lasting impression. read more
Great site to visit (been to many other ruins that were underwhelming). Our tour guide was pretty good. He was funny but a bit hard to understand sometimes. This admission was part of a combo tour including a trip up the volcano plus lunch. The condition was rather impressive. Some buildings were in great shape. As your outside it is hard to imagine you would have been 20 some feet under ground (ash) a hundred years or more ago before they excavated. Plus they have unearthed only about 30% of the city. Many amazing relics & sad displays of humanity to see here. Worth the time to visit this ancient site. read more
POMPEII. Sprawling at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, this ancient city's almost instantaneous downfall has for centuries become engrained in historical texts on western civilization. Archaeological excavations, groundbreaking discoveries, romantic idealizations, movie storylines have all lent to a heightened air of mystique surrounding this locale. Some logistical tips: I) Arriving from Naples: -- A) via public transit fastest is the local EAV commuter train Circumvesuviana from Porto Nolana, the 1st stop, or Napoli Centrale, the 2nd stop. Buy tickets the day of at the train station at ticket machines, for one way €3, round trip €6. A regular Trenitalia train is possible though these stop in the city center of modern Pompeii, east of the archaeological park, walkable in about 10 minutes to the eastern entrance though much less convenient. Check the schedule online; times don't always follow GMaps. I tried to get on the wrong train and the train platform staff directed me to the correct platform for a later departure. Trains get extremely crowded so don't expect seats for the 35 minute duration unless you get on at the first stop. --B) by bus, via a couple types of buses; both bus stops aren't the easiest to locate if taking it one-way. ----1) local EAV buses (#5000 and 5020) run from Napoli Centrale and other stops in Naples' vicinity to bus stop a block south of the Piazza Esedra/Piazza Porta Marina entrance on local route SS18 to the Pompeii Archeological Park. Tickets need to be purchased in advance on the app, at a bus/train station, or on the bus using exact change. They will not stop if full. ----2) by private bus: ie. Flixbus etc. I booked Flixbus online back to Naples since I heard about an EAV train workers strike the afternoon I visited, €15.95 one-way and departed directly on the side of the road (Via Villa dei Misteri) opposite the Scavi di Pompeii train station. What wasn't clear is that when you exit the park, it's via the Piazza Esedra exit so you have to walk back toward the other entrance. Also Flixbus uses affiliates so read your ticket carefully for alternative bus company names, bc you won't see a Flixbus logo. Trip took about 1.5 hours as they stopped multiple places but it was more comfortable than the train. --C) driving: probably the easiest though depends on where you're parking as the lot is very large and it can be up to a 10-12 minute walk to the Scavi di Pompeii entrance. 2) Tickets start at €20, booked in person or online by time slot. Definitely book in advance unless you have a museum pass of some sort (like a Naples Pass), then you can't book online and must queue at the ticket office which opens at 9am*. I arrived at 9:15-20am and waited for about 20min, with about 30ish people in front of me. There are bathrooms at the ticket office, one of a few locations on site. Headed straight into the park once procuring my ticket.** Tickets to the "suburban" Villa di Diomede and Villa dei Misteri are a separate fee of €8 payable in cash or card at the gate to that section of the park, if it's not already included in your combo ticket. It's not included in the regular Naples Pass access. Storage lockers are available for a fee. There's a bag size limit per their website but I did not see this being enforced. FINALLY...getting to the site itself. WOW. There is a lot to see. Barely doable in 4 hours at a brisk pace if you know where you're headed, though 5-6 hours be ideal and certainly you could spend a full day. An audio guide or tour guide is recommended though I bookmarked about two dozen individual sites on Gmaps in advance and used this the day of to guide my itinerary. Cell service can be spotty so download the map on your phone if you can. There are minimal bathroom and food/drink facilities on site, and you cannot leave and come back, so recommend bringing enough water and snacks. Reading various threads online, there's a lot of hyping up the size, I think a) bc there's a huge variety of visitors w/a range of travel experience and fitness, b) the streets are all large stone hewn blocks so it's harder than walking on a paved road. For sense of comparison, the site is about 1/5 the area of Central Park. With so many buildings to check out, I can see how exploring inside with crowds adds to the time it takes to get around. What's terrific is there are a lot of placards w/ info on individual dwellings or structures. Many have QR codes if you have decent reception. There are a couple formal museums, at the Palastre Grand and the Antiquarium. The two suburban villas north of the main site were a further walk though worth it imho, being restored relatively recently, the Villa dei Misteri with brilliantly colored frescos related to an esoteric cult of Dionysus. *Sneakily they don't mention this on the Naples Pass website or app...had to do some Reddit searches to figure this out. **20K visitor limit per day, 15K in 1st half, 5K 2nd half, but they never max out. read more
Walking through Pompeii is kind of surreal. I loved just wandering with no real plan. You can walk right into homes and see the mosaics and little courtyards. Even random things like graffiti on the walls or old kitchen setups are still there. The amphitheater is a definite highlight. The plaster casts are... a lot. Definitely a moment where everything hits a bit harder. It's pretty heavy, but also important to see. Overall, Pompeii actually pulls you in. You end up thinking about the people more than the ruins. It is worth taking your time with and coming out of your way for. read more
3 months ago
Choosing to take a tour was a great decision and our Tour guide was excellent in educating/ entertaining us. Wear comfortable shoes for sure as you are walking on large sections of uneven terrain. read more
This was my husband's request on our trip. I'll be honest, I did not know much about this area or the story that goes with it. That being said, I was super impressed!! Not only by how intricate, beautiful and large the ruins were, but how well it has been preserved. We did not have a guide, but my husband had knowledge buried in his brain, I wasn't aware of. This is a definite check out if you are in the region. Give yourself a few hours to explore. read more
I took a tour from Rome that went from Sorrento to here. It was a cute little town. We didn't even get through most of the park and we had a guide, which allowed us to hit some of the highlights and hear fun facts. I was surprised at how well preserved everything is and it was one of the places I was fascinated with growing up (in which some of the myths I had previously had were debunked here). Since it's a UNESCO site, it's also free on the first Sunday of the month (like the Colosseum). They have a little museum on-site too. 2025 #61 read more
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii is one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world. Located near modern-day Naples, Italy, it was destroyed and buried under ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., preserving its buildings and artifacts for future generations to explore. Of course you need to do this tour, and wear good comfy shoes, you have no idea how beautiful and large this place is. But breathtakingly beautiful. We'd highly recommend a tour guide when visiting, there is so much to learn and you'll have so many questions. We took it as a day trip from Rome which is considered a 13-14 hour day. You stop for breathtaking photos in Sorento Italy and stop at the Amalfi Coast to put your feet in the water, shop, get something to eat then off to Pompeii Ruins for a spectacular tour group. You won't be disappointed. read more
8 months ago
Wow Pompeii was amazing, a whole city buried under 10 feet of volcanic ash and people frozen in time or the plaster made of themselves. I enjoyed my time here although it was short because I was on tour, but you could spend days here exploring everything and still can't see everything! Seeing the plaster people frozen in time as they slept was amazing. I didn't have time to check out Musuem. So if you do come, come without a group tour, as you will miss out on a lot of things. But I enjoyed my time here! I still look back at my photos. Such memories. A trip of a lifetime for sure! read more
One of the best experiences I've ever had. We had an archaeologist-led private tour and couldn't have asked for more. Amazing history, absolutely huge - I didn't understand the scale of Pompeii until we were there. Worth the trip to Napoli to visit Pompeii alone! Spectacular 10/10 highly recommend!! read more
2 years ago
Pompeii is near Naples in the Campania region of Italy. We were so glad that we had an opportunity to go on a special tour there. 2.5+ million people visit it yearly! The history is that it was buried under 13-20 feet of volcanic ash & pumice the moment when Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Most of the city was destroyed but remnants still exist like the frescos on walls in some of the villas & buildings (see my video), an amphitheater, a forum, bakeries, and baths that are located within 9 districts. It is a world UNESCO site that is the only archeological site that provides the true picture of an ancient Roman city. It's a fascinating place to visit! read more
1 year ago
Pictures don't do it justice, these ruins are amazing and I was blown away by how large the area really is. I can't imagine how they even created these structures so long ago and probably with limited tools. In the stone laid streets themselves you can see the markings of where chariot wheels wore divots. They actually had a place to get food (kind of like a fast food setup) and of course bath houses.Really enjoyed our excursion here but definitely needed at least three hours. read more
2 years ago
Pompeii is an absolute must if you're in the Naples or Amalfi areas. The famous ancient city that was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Came from Sorrento which was about an hour ride on the Circumvesuviana train. You could honestly spend an entire day here. Much bigger than I expected. Personally, the best way to explore in my opinion is to go without a map and just chart your own course of self discovery. Pompeii is really cool because you get to see the remnants of what life was like then. The society was also quite sophisticated which is cool. You'll see irrigations systems, homes, theatres, signs, community buildings and more. There's also some signage around to help you understand what it is you're exploring. Even though the city is a huge tourist attraction, because it's so big, it never felt like it was too crowded. Still, I recommend going first thing in the AM if you can. There is an area for food, drinks, and bathroom on site if needed. There's also a number of tourist catering restaurants right around the area too if you need something before or after. read more
I grew up learning about Pompeii in school. We all know the story. The massive volcano that erupted which caused mass devastation in the city of Pompeii. The residents at the time did not believe they would be harmed by Mount Vesuvius. Boy were they wrong! The scene of this natural disaster is an example of history frozen in time. And for a history nut like me, an incredible experience. Pro tip: reserve your ticket online at least two weeks in advance. This will allow you to skip the line and also potentially having to pay significantly more if tickets sell out by buying them through a third party. Preparation is key! There are several entrances to the ruins and make sure to stay away from randos at the entrance trying to trick you into buying things. I showed up right when they opened and spent the entire day there until they closed. And by doing that, I only saw roughly 75% of the ruins. That puts into perspective the scale of what you can see. I paid a little extra for an audio guide which I recommend. You'll learn a lot more this way. You can also get a map to plan your day. You'll see a lot of ruins. You'll see the remains of people preserved at the time of their death. Which is a jarring experience. There's so much to explore. If you get hungry, they have several spots where you can grab a bite to eat or drink. They also have some free water but it's not widespread so make sure to bring plenty on your own. I had a water pack in my backpack. It's likely going to be very hot while you're there and there isn't a lot of shade. So make sure to stay hydrated and bring sunscreen. Pompeii is a short trip from Rome and an essential visit while you're in Italy. There isn't a ton to see in the city outside of the ruins but like I mentioned earlier, given the scale, you can easily spend anywhere from one to three days exploring. read more
Really enjoyed our brief tour of the ruins of Pompeii. Unfortunately the transport bus scheduled through cruise line only gave us 2 hours there....not enough time. We were driven over from the Amalfi Coast which was 1 hour one way. Best to buy your tickets in advance to speed up entrance. It's truly an area stopped in time by the eruption. We did the audio tour and purchased ourself. Like all popular tourist sites it was very busy especially in the main structures. The Archaeologists are still performing the slow process of uncovering the buried ruins. As the Spring moves into to summer it's probably bit on the warm side to tour the exposed areas. From the ruins Mt Vesuvius is large in the view nearby. The surrounding countryside is beautiful with high mountains. We wanted to visit the onsite museum which used some of our time. It holds of artifacts of all types from the inhabitants daily lives. read more
2 years ago
We went out of our way to make sure we could visit the Ruins of Pompeii during our trip, and I'm glad we did. The tour we booked wasn't the greatest, but I'm not reviewing that here, I'm reviewing Pompeii and all we were able to see and experience. And let me say, it was an experience. There is so much to absorb, and it can quickly get to be too much, especially if the streets or houses are crowded, as it was the day we were there. But, it's so SO worth it. We were in Pompeii! We were walking the streets and peering into the homes and stopping in front of shops and baths and getting the barest glimpse of what was, what happened, and what is still to be unearthed. You'll definitely want to wear comfortable shoes, bring a water bottle and something to block the sun if you're there in the summer. There aren't many places to sit and there isn't a lot of shade, so be prepared. The "notable" buildings have placards and the people stemming the flow of visitors inside the buildings you can walk into were friendly and willing to answer questions as we waited for our turn to get inside. We could have spent the day there, wandering the streets and gawking at all the things. I wish we *had* spent the day there, if I'm honest, but the tour made the most sense based on the time we had available and our wish to be carted around the city. The sheer magnitude of the ruins - the Pompeii you can see and the Pompeii teams are still working to uncover - was astounding. I knew it had been a huge, thriving city, of course, but knowing that because of a book or seven and seeing it laid out in front of you are two very different things. Highly recommend for anybody even mildly interested in history, art, culture or very old and sad things. read more
These ruins are history and so worth checking out. Walking around might not be too much but I took a tour and was explained all the history that went down in the city of Pompeii. Definitely makes you appreciate what you have and so interesting go learn about all the volcanic eruptions and how people used to live. Would recommend a tour because I don't think I would have any idea what anything meant without it. read more
1 year ago
My wife and I visited in 2016--pre-kids, pre-sippy cups, back when we could walk hand-in-hand through ancient ruins without someone demanding goldfish crackers every five minutes. Back when traveling meant packing books instead of juice boxes. The whole experience is like walking into a time capsule--only it's 79 AD, the air smells faintly of sunbaked stone and sunscreen, and your sandals are slowly melting against cobblestones that absolutely do not meet modern ADA guidelines. Seriously, if you ever want to know what it's like to sprain an ankle where Julius Caesar once might've hypothetically tripped, this is the place. The streets are carved deep with chariot ruts, which is awesome until you realize they also double as shin-level traps. I half expected to hear the rumble of wheels and the cries of a centurion shouting for more wine and fewer tourists. But it's incredible. You can actually walk into ancient Roman homes, their frescoes still clinging to the walls like memories that refused to fade. You'll pass temples, bakeries, even a brothel with some surprisingly frank artwork. I mean--wow, Romans. Just... wow. And then you see the plaster casts--moments of life caught mid-breath, mid-run, mid-everything. That's when the gravity of it all drops. It's haunting, sobering, powerful, and uunforgettable. Like stumbling onto a page of history that still echoes. Pro-tip: Wear good shoes. Hydrate. And do not, under any circumstance, attempt to impress your spouse by leaping over a stepping stone (ask me how I know). Pompeii is a marvel--equal parts awe and ash. A place where you can wander for hours and still feel like you've only scratched the volcanic surface. read more
Pompeii, the city that was buried in time by Mt. Vesuvius is 79AD, heavily preserved and still being excavated. From the bodies find in the positions they died in, to full kitchens and villas, to thermal pools and outdoor food stands, walking through Pompeii is like getting transported almost 2000 years in to the past. Heading the stories of the lives of the people there, and witnessing how different their lives were based on where they lived really paints a picture of how Roman life and structure was. Definitely a must see if you are in Naples. Take the time and journey back to ancient Rome with a visit to Pompeii read more
Very cool place to visit. Recommend getting tickets before arriving, but there should be tickets available if you arrive early enough. Also, take time to explore. This place is huge! Could easily take a full day to see most of it. Wear comfortable shoes! Where sunblock and freeze water so it melts as you walk because it can get really hot and humid. Great place to see some history! read more
As you may have read from my last review we arrived from Messina, Sicily, Italy to the Port of Naples. After our cruise ship arrived at the port of Naples, we took a cruise ship bus to tour Pompei, a city in southern Italy's Campania region overlooked by the active volcano at Vesuvius. It's known for its ancient city, Pompeii, which was buried by the 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Ruins here include the frescoed Villa of the Mysteries and the city's amphitheater. In town, the Catholic pilgrimage site of thVIIe Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Rosary has mosaics and a grand cupola. Pompei is an UNESCO World Heritage site. I love European and Italian history. Pompei was about 30 KM from the port of Napoli, which took about 30 minutes. Many tour buses and visitors were here. It was very crowded. Pompei is one of the oldest ancient historic sites that we visited during our Mediterranean cruise. We purchased audible tour guide devices for each of us, which we did not use because they were difficult to use, inconvenient and annoying hanging from our necks. The roads of Pompei were uneven stones so somewhat difficult to navigate in the hot sun and heat. Pompei is quite large. We mostly visited sections VII and VIII. We visited 10, 11, 12 including the Piccolo theater, the Stabian baths among many homes and other areas. Check out my many pics from the ruins. Public bathrooms were located in this area. Lots of walking here in the recommended sections VII and VIII. After we toured the sections VII and VIII of the ruins we enjoyed a slice of local pizza and local draft beer at one of the restaurants outside the ruins, where there were many gift shops. It was good to return to our tour bus for our comfortable ride back to the port of Napoli, where our cruise ship was located. More to come regarding Livorno, our next port of call in Italy. read more
I was honestly not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. When a touring exhibit from Pompeii came to the US years ago, it was mostly the human casts and, I'm just not into displays of human remains. One thing I did learn about the casts though, is that some of the touring ones are copies and don't contain the skeletons like the ones on site here do...still....not my thing either way. The majority of what we saw on the tour we took was the city which is amazingly well preserved. The artwork on the walls of the homes was still beautiful, and the restaurants still had food containers with now basically fossilized remnants of food. We were even able to see an area in which research is ongoing. The city is huge and we only saw a small portion of it in the 3 hours or so we were here. Definitely worth seeing! read more
Pompeii was on our list as a "must see" while we were visiting Sorrento. An opportunity to see a historic area thousands of years old is very exciting. We arranged a 4 hour tour, from our hotel that included, transportation, guide and skip the line tickets. For me, it was worth having all this prearranged and organized. We were able to enjoy Pompeii relaxed and worry free. We had a comfortable ride and after we arrived, we were handed our tickets and walked right in. Having a knowledgeable guide describe the historic event, structures, art and city made the visit much more interesting than just walking about on our own. Pompeii is beautiful, from it's uneven stone streets to it broken columns and buildings, built long before the birth of Christ. It's amazing to stand there and see something that old and historic for yourself. You could easily spend a day there, but for me, 4 hours was just about right. read more
1 year ago
Pretty cool. Tour guide matters in order to enjoy the day. I found the upkeep to be disappointing. There's a lot of graffiti. Very sad to be completely honest. read more
Hasn't everyone heard of Pompeii, the famous ancient city near Naples? The city was buried under as much as 20 feet of volcanic ash in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city was largely preserved under the ash and the excavated city now offers a unique image of what life was like as it was frozen in time at the moment it was buried. There is enough to see here that you could easily spend a full day or more. I had three hours of a guided tour which brought us through the basilica area, through preserved homes, uncovered baths and of course, the brothel. The tour guide was so enamored with the paintings on the walls there, the stone penises over door frames and such. I guess he thought that these titillations were important. Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is easily accessible by train from Naples in less than half an hour. I would suggest a guided tour so you don't miss too much. There are plenty of subtle details that are worth pointing out. [Review 19243 overall - 391 in Italy - 213 of 2023.] read more
2 years ago
It's always a great experience to see history. It was extremely hot when I went, so I do recommend that you bring plenty of water, a fan, and an umbrella. This place is so huge that you can break your tour down over a few days. Just a quick history of Pompeii: in the summer of A.D. 79, the nearby Mount Vesuvius volcano erupted, spreading smoke and toxic gas 20 miles into the air, which soon reached the town. read more
An amazing archaeological site filled with stories of the 20-30,000 people who lived there. Well maintained this city is filled with all the things you would find in a city of today. The ruins are well preserved yet you are allowed to get up close and personal to the artifacts. Recommend you hire a tour guide so they can get you to the important points of interest. It is a massive city and a typical tour is 3-4 hours of which you will explore less than 10% of the city. Lots of cafes and shops right outside the entrance. A cameo factory is located right next door that has some amazing pieces albeit a bit higher cost due to proximity to this major tourist attraction. read more
The ruins of Pompeii have been preserved under volcanic ash from Mt Vesuvius eruption. This excavated city offered a snapshot of Roman life, frozen at the time it was buried. Unfortunately, a lot of the detailed evidence of the everyday life of its inhabitants was lost in the excavations. This was a wealthy community, with a population of about 11,000 in AD 79. Remains of many fine public buildings, luxurious private houses with lavish decorations, furnishings & art were excavated. Organic remains, including wooden objects & a few human bodies, were also entombed in ash. They decayed, allowing archaeologists to make plaster casts of unique & gruesome, figures in their final moments of life. The numerous graffiti carved on walls & inside rooms provides a wealth Latin spoken at the time, contrasting with formal language of the classical writers. Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, with approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. read more
1 year ago
A must see in the area. This was an amazing place. We prearranged a guide to meet us to give us a private tour as we only had 2 hours. We were efficient and saw all the highlights, wealthy house, the baths, plaster people remains, frescos, theatre, and forum to just name a few. I loved the frescos. I didn't take a ton of pics because it was fun to just focus and imagine the life and character of this city. The size of the excavated area is massive. Two hours was not enough. It's interesting to hear the stories of how it's thought these people lived based on what they left behind but we will never really know for sure. Our guide, Serena, was excellent. Full of info but driven to ensure we used our time wisely. Heads up, our entry line was held up a few times by people that had purchased online tickets without the scanner working well off your phone. Print them out if you can for the best results. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
"Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh Eh-eh-oh, eh-oh" - Bastille Who knows this tune? How can you not sing these lyrics? If you're in Naples, you can't not visit the Pompeii Ruins! Honestly, the best part to visit is just in the central area, the Forum, where the Temple of Jupiter and Basilica are. You can spend hours wandering around the streets of this ancient city so wear comfortable shoes. Check out the old brothel (Lupanare) and see the rock hard beds. Honestly, the Amphitheater and the Palestra Grande at the other end of the city were not that impressive but people do say it's the best part to visit. A stroller is a bad idea as I saw many parents struggling pushing a stroller around a super rocky street. Will leave you with some rap lyrics: "Speedboat swerve homie watch out for the waves I'm way too black to burn from sun rays So I just meditate at the home in Pompeii About how I could build a new Rome in one day" - Kanye West read more
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