 Introduzione
The volcano buried Pompei under many meters of ash, and it was lost for 1,600 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1748. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Come Si Arriva By Plane
The closest airport is in Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP), which is up the coast about 30 kilometers from Pompei. For getting to or from the airport, there are two possibilities: ANM bus 3S (30mins, every 15mins) from Piazza Garibaldi, or the Alibus airport bus (20mins, at least hourly) from Piazza Municipio. The nearest Intercontinental Airport is Rome's Fiumicino, with the possibility of getting to Naples by air besides the train.
By Train
Get to Naples first and change there to the Circumvesuviana local train line from the lower level of the station. Get off at Pompei Scavio. The entrance to Pompei is about 50m away from the station.
By Bus
The SITA bus can also take you where you need to go; get on the Naples to Salerno bus which will stop enroute in Pompei.
By Car
You can easily rent car at the Naples airport. From the airport, get on the Autostrada (highway) A3, and take the Pompei exit about twenty minutes later.
History and Culture
Pompei took part in the war that the towns of Campania initiated against Rome, but in 89 BC it was besieged by Sulla. Although the troops of the Social League, headed by Lucius Cluentius, helped in resisting the Romans, in 80 BC Pompei was forced to surrender after the conquest of Nola. It became a Roman colony with the name of Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum. The town became an important passage for goods that arrived by sea and had to be sent toward Rome or Southern Italy along the nearby Appian Way.
The archeological digs at the site only extend down to the street level of the 79 AD volcanic event; deeper digs in older parts of Pompei and core samples of nearby drillings have exposed layers of jumbled sediment that suggest that the city had suffered from the volcano and other seismic events before then. Three sheets of sediment have been found on top of the lava bedrock that lies below the city and, mixed in with the sediment, archeologists have found bits of animal bone, pottery shards and plants. Using carbon dating, the oldest layer has been dated to the 8th-6th centuries BC, about the time that the city was founded. The other two layers are separated from the other layers by well-developed soil layers or Roman pavement and were laid in the 4th century BC and 2nd century BC. The theory behind the layers of jumbled sediment is large landslides, perhaps triggered by extended rainfall.
The Ruins
Immediately beyond the gate, on the right, is the Antiquarium, containing excavated material from Pompei dating from the pre-Samnite period to Roman times. Particularly impressive are the casts of human bodies and of a dog found buried under the ashes.
House of the Vettii
The very interesting House of the Vettii in the Vicolo di Mercurio has well-preserved ornamental paintings and fine frescoes in the triclinium. The peristylium (partly rebuilt) still has its original marble decoration and has been replanted. The kitchen still contains its cooking utensils.
Southwest of the House of the Vettii is the House of the Labyrinth (Casa del Labirinto), with two atria.
House of the Faun/ Casa del Fauno
Opposite the House of the Vettii, to the south, is the House of the Faun ( entrance from the Via di Nola), the most palatial mansion in Pompei, and taking up a whole insula (80 x 35m/88 x 38yd). By the impluvium is a copy of the statuette of a faun which was discovered here. The famous mosaic of "Alexander's Battle" was found in the room with red columns.
Painting of Venus
To the south of the Via dell'Abbondanza, are the most recent excavations (1951-59). Of particular interest in this area are the House of Venus (Casa della Venere), with a fine painting of Venus; the House of the Orchard (Casa del Frutteto); and the Villa di Giulia Felice.
Villa of Diomedes
At the northwest end of the Street of Tombs is the large Villa of Diomedes, with an extensive garden enclosed by a portico 33m/36yd long each way. In the center of the garden is a basin and six columns which belonged to a pavilion. In an underground passage (cryptoporticus) were found the bodies of 18 women and children. Near the garden door (now walled up) was the body of a man, presumably the owner of the house, with a key in his hand and a slave beside him carrying money and valuables.
Villa of the Mysteries (Villa dei Misteri)
200m/220yd northwest of the Villa of Diomedes, outside the main excavation area, is the magnificent Villa of the Mysteries (Villa dei Misteri; reached from the main entrance to the excavations on a road which runs past the station (500m/550yd) and continues for another 700m/770yd), with the finest surviving ancient wall paintings, preserved in all the brilliance of their original coloring. The most remarkable of these is a frieze 17m/19yd long in the large triclinium with almost life-size figures, dating from the pre-Augustan period which depicts scenes from the Dionysiac mysteries.
Temples
On the east side of the Little Theater is the Via Stabiana, which runs northwest. Immediately on the left is the little Tempio di Giove Meilichio. To the west of this, in the Via del Tempio d'Iside, the Temple of Isis has an inscription scratched on its walls by the French novelist Stendhal (Henri Beyle) during a visit in 1817. Beyond this, on the east side of the Via Stabiana, is the Casa del Citarista, one of the largest houses in Pompei. Just beyond this the Via Stabiana joins the Via dell'Abbondanza.
Large Theater (Teatro Grande)
Adjoining the northern half of the Triangular Forum, built into the sloping ground, is the Large Theater (Teatro Grande), which could seat some 5,000 spectators and is now used for "Son et lumiere" shows in summer. From the top row there are fine views.
Forum
Beyond the Antiquarium in Pompei, is the Basilica, used as a market and a law-court. To the left is the Temple of Apollo, surrounded by 48 Ionic columns. Beyond these two buildings is the Forum, the principal square of the Roman town, which was enclosed by colonnades. At the north end of the forum is the Temple of Jupiter, on a base 3m/10ft high. At the northeast corner is the Macellum, a hall for the sale of foodstuffs. Down the east side are the Shrine of the Lares, the Temple of Vespasian (probably dedicated originally to Augustus) and the Building of Eumachia, probably a hall for the sale of wool. On the south side of the forum is the Curia, the meeting-place of the town council, flanked by three other rooms.
Forum Baths/Terme del Foro
In the Via delle Terme, the westerly continuation of the Via di Nola (the western part of which is also called the Via di Fortuna), are the Forum Baths (Terme del Foro), smaller and more modest than the Stabian Baths but also occupying a whole insula.
House of Menander
South of Nuovi Scavi is the large and well-preserved House of Menander which belonged to a wealthy merchant; it was named after a likeness of the Greek comic playwright Menander in a niche in the magnificent peristylium. Adjoining this is the charming little House of the Lovers.
Palaestra
South of the House of Marcus Loreius Tiburtinus is the Palaestra, with colonnades round three sides (each 140m/154yd long) and a swimming pool in the center.
Stabian Baths / Terme Stabiana
At the corner of the Via dell'Abbondanza and the Via Stabiana are the Stabian Baths (Terme Stabiana), the largest and best-preserved baths in Pompei (entrance from Via dell'Abbondanza). The entrance leads into the colonnaded palaestra, with a swimming pool on the left; on the right are the male and female baths, separated by the stoves for heating the water. Each establishment has a circular cold bath (frigidarium), a changing room (apodyterium) with racks for clothing, a warm bath (tepidarium) and a hot (Turkish) bath (caldarium) heated by air-ducts in the floor and walls.
Chiese e Musei
Domination modern Pompei's centre, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary was cnsecrated in 1891, some 15 years after the mircle that guaranteed its fame. In 1876 a young girl was cured of epilepsy after praying in front of the painting Virgin of the Rosary with child, above the main altar. New spread rapidly and to this day the painting is the subject of popular devotion. The sanctuary is flanked by a freestanding 80m high campanile.
Museo Vesuviano
Located southeast of the excavations, it contains an interesting arrary of artefacts.
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