Pompei

Pompeii is located in the south-west of Italy, in the volcanic plains of Campania, a few kilometers away from Naples. Built at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, it was founded in the 6th century BC and flourished until 79 AD, when the Vesuvius erupted and buried the whole city and its inhabitants in ash and molten lava.

The catastrophe that destroyed a whole city in a few hours, killing several thousands, is undoubtedly a tragedy. However it helped us understand a great deal about the daily life of the ancient Romans. Nowhere else have archeologists found so much evidence of their life as to be able to recreate the life styles not only of Roman nobles, but also of artisans, merchants, and slaves.

Pompei is a history book in which one can wander about freely. You can admire the exquisite frescoes that adorn the walls of the patrician villas, the daring murals inside the brothels, the beautiful statues standing in the city's gardens, but most of all you will be moved by the little houses and shops, which reveal their past owners' intimacy.

You can find many invaluable archeological treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum in the museums of Naples. But before leaving, if you have the heart to do so, you should climb the formidable Vesuvius, and from the top admire the bay of Naples and the famous ruins.