Pompeii was the most prosperous and shining cities of the ancient world, until one day in 79 AD, Vesuvius, the then not yet known volcano erupted & destroyed the city. Now, it is UNESCO’s World Heritage site near Naples and though it is nothing but ruins, it is one of the most visited places in Italy. You can imagine its splendor as you walk through the ruins of the buildings that once stood in their prime. The place was perfectly preserved under ash for centuries and the excavated city is the authentic snapshot of what it looked centuries ago.
It was a really rich Roman city thanks to its booming exports of oil and wines & today it is one of the best place in the world to see what life was like in a Roman city centuries ago. If you are visiting popular cities like Rome or Naples, do make time to visit Pompeii.
Why should you stay in Pompeii instead of doing a day trip?
First and foremost thing is that you need a week to see all that is there in the Ruins of Pompeii, but if you can manage only 1 or 2 days, that is also enough; it is just that seeing all this in a day will be too rushed and overwhelming. Pompeii is really close to Sorrento & Herculaneum, the nearby historic towns that are worth visiting too; you should visit them before heading towards Pompeii . You can easily get a hotel room booking in one of the hotels in the present city of Pompeii which is just a small 15 minute walk from the ruins of Pompeii.
Start your Pompeii tour at The Forum
The Forum is the most visited attraction in Pompeii and don’t be surprised if you find it a bit crowded when you visit; this is a normal occurrence.Located near the main gate, it is the hub of tourist activity; it is the only thing that has not changed, it was the center of activity even in ancient Pompeii. It was the place where all the religious and commercial events used to take place – it was the heart of the city.
The Forum Baths
Located near the forums, these baths are one of the most well preserved ruins at Pompeii; witnessing them actually feels like walking back in time as you can actually imagine how it might have looked like in its prime. Though the tubs at the Forum Baths are smaller than the tubs found in other places in the ancient city, they are still one of the most impressive & elegant locations in Pompeii; you can even look into the walls and see how the water was heated 1000 years ago.
It had separate baths for men and women, even the entrances were different. The place also had provision for cold and tepid baths.
Next make your way towards The Stabian Baths
Just like the Forum Baths,the Stabian Baths is another well preserved bath in the ancient city of Pompeii which you should include in your itinerary. It is of importance because it is said to be the oldest bath from the Roman world. This spa complex is said to date back to the 2nd Century BC and its well preserved structure has intact vaulted ceilings & stucco reliefs.
These baths used to have a big swimming pool with a gym and a workout area. Though a bit unsettling, there are also a few preserved bodies here that you can observe.
Head towards the House of small fountains
This is a lovely house noted for its frescos, a large backroom and a beautiful fountain. On seeing the vast house, it becomes clear that it belonged to someone wealthy; all its rooms lead into a big central hall or atrium.
It is a great example of ancient architecture; the sloped roof was used to collect water which speaks volumes about innovation in the past times. This harvested water was used for the fountain.
Next house on the list is House of the Faun
Though the House of the Fountain is quite impressive, if you want to see the biggest house in Pompeii, make your way towards the House of the Faun. It is called ‘the House of the Faun’ because it has a statue of a Faun in its front courtyard.
Not only the biggest in the ancient city of Pompeii, it is also the most well preserved house in the whole of Rome. Known to have been built in the 2nd Century BCE, it is the oldest structure in the city; the best example of a wealthy private residence from ancient Rome. The house’s courtyard is quite big and has a detailed & impressive battle scene.
Garden of the Fugitives
The Garden of the Fugitives, the ancient vineyard is the place where you can see the last moments of the city of Pompeii quite vividly. Here you can see the casts of 13 preserved bodies of the people who were not able to exit the city alive.
When the place was excavated, decomposed bodies were found, plaster was poured into the bodies and when the plaster was hardened, 13 bodies of adults and children were found.
Another house worth visiting is House of Venus in the Shell
House of Venus in the Shell is another house in Pompeii which is most famous for the colorful fresco to the goddess Venus. During the eruptions, the house was under renovation; though the house is exactly the way it was so many centuries ago, it received a few damages in WWII bombings for which restoration was done in the 1950s.
This house dates back to 1st Century BCE and is said to have undergone a lot of layout changes over the years. The house (just like another house named House of the Vettii) doesn’t have a tablinum (a room opposite to the entrance), instead it has a garden with peristylium. It is the peristylium’s back wall where the famous painting of Venus graces the house, the very painting which gives the house its name.
Time to visit The Amphitheater
The Amphitheatre is the place where all the games for the entertainment of the people used to be held.
Built in 70 BCE, the Amphitheatre is Rome’s oldest existing amphitheatre built of stone. Another classic and historic amphitheatre in Rome is the Colosseum which was built a century later. Its architecture is considered optimal by the present day architects and its washroom, palaestra’s design has been used as inspiration many times for modern day stadiums.
Great Palestra
Located right next to the amphitheatre, End the self-guided tour at Great Palestra is another gem from the ancient city of Pompeii that you must see.
This place was more of an exercise park with a swimming pool that was more focused towards youth groups. It is also one of the few attractions of Pompeii which doesn’t receive much crowd, so spending time here proves to be really calming and refreshing.
Where to stay in Pompeii?
- Pompei Central
- Vesuvius Pompei
- Hotel Forum Pompei
Where to eat in Pompeii?
- Caupona Pompei Restaurant
- Principe Bistrot Restaurant