Visiting Pompeii was a huge tick off my travel bucket list. The ancient Roman City, destroyed by the erupting Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, has been somewhere I’ve wanted to go since I was a child. Easy to reach from Naples and Sorrento via the Circumvesuviana train, this is a place not to be missed! I’ve been to exhibitions about it, watched documentaries and read books but nothing prepared me for actually going there in person.
Pompeii is by far the best preserved ancient site I’ve seen. Everything has been frozen in time, mainly because of the lack of air and moisture after being covered in volcanic ash. From the intricate frescos to the large and spacious houses and baths, Pompeii is a constant reminder that people lived and died in what was once a busy and thriving City. With Mount Vesuvius visible from most places, you can only imagine what the City’s inhabitants went through years ago!
Anyway, enough of the history lesson, here are some shots from a truly amazing place. Keep scrolling down for some top tips!
Top tips:
- Get a guide (a map/book, audio guide or a proper guided tour, it really depends on your budget). Pompeii is vast so you really do need some sort of guide or plan of things to see. We hired an audio guide which was around 6 euros each. It meant that we had the freedom to go wherever we wanted without relying on another person. The audio guide was good but there were times when it would describe the inside of a building which was closed (not the audio guide’s fault though).
- You need a full day to properly explore Pompeii so wear comfortable walking shoes as the cobble stones are a bit hard on the feet.
- Drink lots of water – Pompeii is very exposed and there is little shade so very important to keep hydrated!
- Entrance to Pompeii is free on the first Sunday of the month.
- Make a plan and go!!!
Zohra's Rose: Lifestyle & Travel 