Visit Pompeii Ruins, Volcano & City in Italy
1. Ancient Pompeii city
2. Mount Vesuvius volcano eruption
3. Rediscovery of Pompeii
4. Visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius
Pompeii at the foot of the volcano Vesuvius in the Campania region near Naples in Italy. When meandering around the streets of present-day Pompeii, you will see no sign of the disastrous event caused by the roaring volcano two thousand years ago in the small Italian city. Anyway, as soon as you decide to visit the ruins and enter the Pompeii archaeological area, the harsh details in history become very real – and you will gain insight into the natural disaster that had fatal consequences for the population.
In the early days, Greek people and Etruscans settled around the mighty volcano above Pompeii. Later, the region was subject to both Hellenic and Roman settlements.
Photo: Tamàs Lieber / Pixabay
With the Samnite Wars (343-290 BC), the Roman army invaded the area, introducing the traditions of Rome. City walls were established around Pompeii, and the city had an urban structure known from other Roman cities.
It was not only the architectural subtleties of constructions and the ingenious street design of Pompeii which were influenced but just as much the political lines and daily life. Pompeii now had to accept and adapt to the new status of being socii of Rome. Nevertheless, as a society, Pompeii still had some administrative autonomy.
Pompeii was a flourishing place with extensive agriculture and wealthy landowners cultivating their fields and orchards around the sloping hillsides of the volcano. The land was tremendously fertile here due to the nature of the soil, and the harvest was always plentiful. The neighbouring Mount Vesuvius volcano gave excellent conditions for fruitful land. The lively volcano spread ash in the surrounding area, contributing to a soil rich in nutrients beneficial for the crops.
Photo: Anemone 123 / Pixabay
Its location at the sea was convenient for ships to arrive with goods to trade them for products from the Pompeii region in Italy. The Pompeiian farmers had an abundance of grains, fruits, nuts, olives, oil, wine and fish, and they exchanged their crops and other products for meat, salted fish and spices from abroad. As part of a relatively developed society, the citizens also used Roman coins in exchange for goods.
The success Pompeii city experienced in terms of wealth and resource richness was thanks to the active volcano above the city.
Photo: Photo: Daisy H / Pixabay
Strangely enough, this same volcanic source eventually also caused the downfall of the Pompeiian culture. The volcano, which had provided the Pompeiian citizens with so much prosperity, ended up bringing the thriving society to an end.
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In 79 CE, the Pompeiians woke up to an increased activity from Vesuvius. The bakers had fresh bread in the ovens, and people expected the daily activities to begin as usual. At that time, there was notably no warning system to alert people days in advance, as we have today. Seismic activity was so common in this part of Italy that people did not pay any particular attention to it. They had learned to live with the volatile environment and had, at that moment, no idea of what awaited them during the next couple of days!
Photo: Graham Hobster / Pixabay
Multiple earthquakes shook the earth around Herculaneum and Pompeii. People were pretty unprepared for the heavy volcano explosion that now took place on a summer day in August. The blast sent a plume of material and volcanic gases into the sky, rising to a height enabling people to see it hundreds of kilometres away.
The sky was not clear, and whitish and greyish volcanic ash started drifting towards the earth. Around noon, the raining ash blocked the sun, and shortly, a thick ash layer covered the city of Pompeii. Also, the town of Herculaneum and the other neighbouring communities were struck by the falling volcanic material.
Pompeii ruins Italy | Photo: Falco / Pixabay
The following morning at dawn, volcanic gasses appeared from the depth of the glowing volcano to an extent that they soon approached the city of Pompeii. The lava and the ash poured down the sloping hillsides of Mount Vesuvius.
Pompeii was entirely buried and left without any life at all. Some citizens had managed to flee and rescue themselves from the deadly eruption, but others were not that fortunate. It is estimated that around 2,000 people died from the volcano eruption around Pompeii. Also, Herculaneum and the other neighbouring cities, such as Stabiae, Boscoreale, and Torre Annunziata were devastated in probably the most deadly volcano eruption in Europe. The region lost in a few days its rich culture, magnificent residential villas with beautifully decorated apartments, thermal baths, and everything related to the ancient civilisation.
Photo: Anemone 123 / Pixabay
Pompeii disappeared for many years and was not rediscovered until 1748, under a thick layer of ash, earth and debris. Surprisingly, the city of Pompeii was relatively intact. Buildings, artefacts, and former Pompeiians were left in the situations they had found themselves in on an August day in 79 CE.
Their skeletons, tools, kitchens, and products were well enough preserved to reveal incredible details about everyday life in Pompeii at the time. During the excavations, most astonishingly, preserved food like dried fruit and loaves of bread was even found!
Photo: Photo: Rosemaria / Pixabay
Modern-day Pompeii is a small city with an impressive cathedral at the central square. Cafés, restaurants, shops, fountains, benches, archaeology, ruins, gelato, and pastries … Pompeii has it all! It is a lively Italian town full of atmosphere.
Pompeii has its local vibe and is a pleasant and convenient base to stay for a few days to discover the ruins of the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. You may also consider combining it with a day tour to the picture-postcard Amalfi coast or Naples!
You can easily take the train between Naples and Pompeii. There are even two train stations here: Pompei Scavi – Villa Dei Misteri and Pompeii Station.
Photo: Graham Hobster / Pixabay
In Pompeii, you will visit the unique ruins of the ancient city existing before the year 79 CE. You must allow at least half a day – perhaps more – for the visit since the archaeological site and ruins of Pompeii cover a vast area.
The site reveals amazingly preserved ruins of an ancient Roman city with homes, restaurants, artisans’ workshops, retail stores, sculptures, a forum, a gymnasium, an amphitheatre, basilicas, and many other public buildings. It is like a ‘frozen’ image of the Pompeii 2000 years ago with impressive villas and painted frescos – which later influenced Neoclassicism.
Photo: Travelspot / Pixabay
Many of the artefacts recovered in Pompeii are now on display at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The Antiquarium, the small museum you can visit here in Pompeii, which is part of the archaeological site, showcases plaster casts of the Pompeii inhabitants as they were caught and ash-covered in the volcano eruption.
When taking the train from Pompeii to the Ercolano Scavi train station, you will have the Herculaneum ruins within short walking distance.
The archaeological site is much smaller than at Pompeii. Nevertheless, Herculaneum is even better preserved than Pompeii since a deeper layer of ash covered this site, closer to the volcano. In Herculaneum, residential buildings still have multiple floors and wooden furnishings preserved – unlike Pompeii. The archaeological site has both mosaics and sculptures.
Photo: Graham Hobster / Pixabay
There is also a fabulous museum, the Herculaneum MAV – Virtual Archaeological Museum in Ercolano, which in a very instructive way brings the ancient cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii to life!
Other sites worth visiting to view more archaeological sites include Stabiae, Boscoreale and Torre Annunziata.
To complete your Pompeii visit, you can ascend the volcano to the Crater of Mount Vesuvius. You can take the Autobus EAV from Circumvesuviana Pompei – Villa dei Misteri stop or the Circumvesuviana Ercolano Scavi stop.
Another option is to take the Busvia del Vesuvio. Buses depart from the Circumvesuviana Pompei Villa dei Misteri train station and arrive at the Mount Vesuvius National Park entrance. From here, you continue in a 4×4 bus to climb the volcano road! Atop the volcano, a guide will take you on foot to the crater. It is a fascinating experience to add to the archaeological visit!
Photo: Enzo Abramo / Pixabay
Are you going to Rome – and want to explore the top attractions? Take a look at this: Rome Top Sights Around Piazza Navona and Where to stay in Rome
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Visit Pompeii Ruins, Volcano & City in Italy
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Visit Pompeii Ruins, Volcano & City in Italy:
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Visit Pompeii Ruins, Volcano & City in Italy – Pompei
