Visit to Ruins of Pompeii: Day Trip from Rome
Pompeii ruins provide a unique opportunity to learn about ancient Roman history, architecture, social structure, art and culture, only if you look at it as a subject of study. But I found it hard not to get emotional there. The ruins of Pompeii are one of the saddest places that I have visited during my travels around the world.
My daughters, for whom the lesson on volcanic eruption in Pompeii in 79 AD was fresh in mind, were eager for this visit to Pompeii archaeological site. It was with lot of excitement, anticipation and curiosity we arrived at Pompeii, a day trip destination from Rome. We were on our 20th day of of our 3 weeks of Italy road trip.
Pompeii Ruins
I saw well preserved houses and buildings which historians say were shops in archaeological site. One can get a fair idea about the daily life style of ancient Romans. How the Pompeii citizens lived, worked and socialized have been deciphered from the findings in the ruins. The graffiti found in Pompeii is a total giveaway in the matters of the political and social issues of the time.
The clusters of different types of buildings in the different regions of Pompeii indicate the kind of social structure and demarcation they followed which was most likely on the basis of wealth. Ruins of Amphitheater, the theater, and the brothels reflect the Roman culture of entertainment and leisure.
The Forum, the Amphitheatre, and the Villa of the Mysteries inside Pompeii are a proof of the advanced architectural and engineering skills of the Romans. Macellum (market) and the taverns provide insight into the Roman economy and trade.
The frescoes, mosaics, and other decorative elements found speak how highly creative they were. The designs, some of which may have been copied today, are stunning. They also throw light on the gods and goddesses they worshiped, their mythology and beliefs. I guess humans were the same always, whichever era they may have been! No?
However, the biggest takeaway as a lesson from this place would be the destructive power of nature and the fragility of human life. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the impact it had on the prosperous Pompeii city and its inhabitants is reminder that prosperity can be reduced to ashes in matter of minutes!
Haunting scene from Pompeii archaeological site
There were long stretches of streets criss-crossing with ruins on either side, there were lots to see. Pompeii can easily take a day; we could spend only about fours there. We saw a lot, mainly the highlights but I am sure there are more that we couldn’t see.
The vineyards are fertile because the soil was rich with lava remains. The fertile soil of Vesuvius and the climate of the region provide the ideal conditions for the growing of grapes.
What is there to See in Pompeii
Here are the highlights of ruins of Pompeii that you should see if you are on a self guided tour of Pompeii ruins:
The Forum: This was the central square of Pompeii city of ancient times, probably a busy political, commercial, and religious center then. One can see the remains of the Temple of Jupiter, the Basilica (law court), and the Macellum (market).
The Amphitheater: This is one of the oldest Roman amphitheaters in existence with a capacity for 5,000 people. Like other amphitheatres of its time, this too was used for gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles.
The Villa of the Mysteries: One of the well-preserved private villa of ancient Pompeii that features beautiful frescoes. The scenes depict themes from ancient Roman religion and mythology.
The Villa of the Faun: Another well-preserved private villa that has a beautiful mosaic floor and frescoes.
The Houses of Pompeii residents: Tourists can enter the well-preserved houses that give a glimpse into the daily life of the Roman people. Parts of the houses used as kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms are clearly seen.
The Thermal Baths: Noteworthy thermal baths are the Stabian Baths, the Central Baths, and the Forum Baths. The baths feature a variety of different rooms, including a frigidarium, a tepidarium, and a caldarium.
The casts of the victims: The eerie reminder of past! The remains of some of these victims are preserved, and casts of their bodies were made, which can be seen in the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
The Graffiti: The walls of the houses and public buildings in Pompeii are covered with graffiti that has withstood all tests of time! This is a unique feature of this ancient city.
Casts of the Victims of Pompeii Earthquake
I explained to them the technicalities involved in making the human and animal molds… how archeologists on finding a hollow space in the hardened lava injected liquid plaster of paris into them… they weren’t sure what form would emerge… it could be a human or an animal. I saw clear anguish and torment in one of the faces there.
Walking in and out of the rows of houses without roofs, which were ‘home, sweet home’ to the residents centuries back silenced us. I had to make an effort to break the silence, engage my daughters in conversations.
“Three meters thick lava,” my Ds recollected their lessons. The whole town was buried under it for centuries. People died in scorching lava. I had to pull them out of these painful thoughts.
Pier Paolo Petrone at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, and his colleagues extracted small samples of bone from seven human skeletons recovered from Pompeii and five recovered from Herculaneum. They found that they could isolate traces of ancient protein from all of the samples.
Casts in Pompeii archaeological Park
The architectural remains are a marvel, the remains of vases that must have once held wine or olive oil or other edibles are neatly arranged and displayed. There were many tourists including a whole huge group of school students, yet to me Pompeii looked silent, empty, devastated, as if it was still mourning.
What not to miss in Pompeii
Try not missing out the following sights while in Pompeii city.
Mount Vesuvius: This is the mountain from where the volcano erupted in 79 AD, burying Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash and pumice. You will need separate tickets to hike to the summit of the volcano for a stunning view of the surrounding area.
Herculaneum: A nearby ancient Roman city that got buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 AD. Herculaneum is smaller than Pompeii and worth including in your plans of sightseeing in Pompeii.
Sorrento: It is a picturesque town overlooking the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy, located on the Amalfi Coast, known for its beautiful sea views, charming streets, and delicious local cuisine. Distance from Pompeii archaeological park to Sorrento is 27.1 km can be covered in 45 min.
Naples: It is the largest city in southern Italy and is located just a short distance (23.8 km) from Pompeii. Naples is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and delicious pizza.
Mt. Vesuvius at the background
Since its discovery, Pompeii has been one of the longest continually excavated sites in the world. Despite all this work, about a third of Pompeii’s 170 acres remain unexplored. Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli led explorations for 12 years until 1875 and uncovered about a third of the city.
How to get to Pompeii
Pompeii is located in the region of Campania, in southern Italy. It is 242 km south-east of Rome. Pompeii can be reached by several different means of transportation:
By air: The nearest airport is Naples International Airport. From there you can take a train or bus to reach Pompeii.
By train: Pompeii is well-connected to the rest of Italy by train. There are frequent trains to and from Naples, Rome, and other major cities. Closest railway station from the archaeological site is the Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri station.
By bus: For budget travel there are regular bus services to and from Pompeii, including from Naples and Sorrento. The bus station is located just outside the archaeological site.
By car: We travelled to Pompeii by car that we hired from AVIS car rentals in Venice airport.
By tour: Alternatively you can avail the services of many tour operators who offer guided tours of Pompeii.
Pompeii Ruins
Travel Tips to Visit Pompeii Ruins
- Parking is available.
- Check the traffic and plan accordingly as it can be quite heavy during peak seasons.
- No dress code for entering Pompeii archaeological park
- Facilities in Pompeii include washrooms and drinking water.
- Pompeii is closed to tourists on 1st Jan, 1st May and 25th Dec.
- Avoid summer months here.
Is there a separate ticket for entry to Vesuvius National Park?
There is an entry fee to Visit to nearby Vesuvius national park has separate ticket charges. They cost 10 Euros, includes a guide in Italian or English. Children shorter than 1.2 m are exempted of this fee.
Should I buy tickets for Pompeii sites in advance?
It is advisable to buy tickets in advance to avoid the long queues.
How much is the entrance fee to visit Pompeii Ruins?
Tickets for Pompeii ruins cost: Adults above 25 years – 11 Euros ; Adults between 18 to 25 years of age – 5.50 Euros, Free entrance for less than 18 years of age.
How long does it take to tour the ruins at Pompeii?
The ruins of Pompeii are spread across 44 square hectares, which can take at least two full days to tour the entire park. You can see most of the highlights in 4 hours.
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Indrani Ghose is an Indian Travel Writer and Blogger based in Bangalore, India. She has written for numerous publications across the globe – including Lonely Planet, The National UAE, Whetstone Asia, Deccan Herald. You can follow her on her social media handles Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to see the wonderful destinations, beautiful offbeat places and get instant updates about them.
Eerie!
such an old event in history, but still captivates the visitors.
Nature’s fury forever has both the plus and minus.. The molten lava unless comes out out with such a great force cannot bring out the rich fertile elements embedded deep inside the earth to be useful to next few generations.. A great Post describing the place.. Thanks for sharing, Indrani!
Good post. Pompei would have been such a grand place once – suddenly and tragically got frozen in time and space.
Awesome post! Hope to visit someime!
This one is so high on my list and have not been able to do it. 🙁 Some day. Your journey has further fueled my curiosity.
Your Ds are fortunate Indrani, something studied and then practically seen they will never forget it now 🙂 superb post and awesome pictures.
Amazing information and lovely clicks.
Nice 🙂
Wonderful photo-story as always 🙂
Amazing pics.. First two reminded me of Bhangardh.
Great narration and lovely pics. Tragic history…
I was not aware of this place and its history . You are being guide to your daughters. It is natural and I think it is good to travel with children as it becomes permanent in their mind . Great historical place to visit .
A wonderful historical site.. the pics are much fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for taking me on the virtual tour!
Wow what an amazing historical site. I’d love to visit this place once in my life time. Wonderful narration with perfect photos.
An interesting post, Indrani made relatable by the fact that like your daughters, my son too had that Pompeii chapter in his course hence, he devoured every word oh this and is sure to brag off his extra knowledge courtesy you 🙂
Apart from that, the place does seem to be still in mourning.
Tempting (am not sure if thats the right word to describe a city associated with death) shots of Pompeii 🙂
Pompeii has been on my bucket list for don’t know how long. Lets see when the dream fulfils.
Nice shots of Pompeii.The trip would have given the greater impact.Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Sriram & Krithiga
I am looking forward to visiting Pompeii. Loved the pics and the haunting narration.
Great photos Indrani. Yes, Pompei has so many tragedies to talk about. It’s hard to look beyond that.
The destruction of Pompeii was unfortunate. Yet, the ruins still stand for what it was back then.
Wow, amazing. Thanks for the tour.
I think we will always feel that Pompeii is in mourning – for if not, then we are as lost as that civilization…
Just incredible!
What a wonderful post… this must have been some experience for you and your girls! Sounds like the trip had much greater impact than the lessons in school, keep them talking about it.
Fabulous photos, thanks for sharing and congrats on POTW.
and i'm like a kid, wandering curiously around this area. ^0^
I wish my feet could take me there soon.
i read about pompeii in my school…..it set my imagination on fire!!!……thanks for sharing the pics with us!!
Thank you for sharing your visit to this ancient place and your beautiful images with us! I have been there several times, always captivated by the feel of ancient stories around me.
Congratulations on winning Hilary's Post of the Week award! 🙂
INTRESTING, VERY INTRESTING DID NOT KNOW MANY OF THE THINGS YOU EXPLAINED
Hi Indrani! What a fabulous trip you made to Italy…
Thanks for your comments at Blogtrotter Two, where the Nile 2010 is coming to an end! But the temple of Philae surely deserves a comment… 😉 Enjoy and have an excellent Sunday!
Very beautiful post and images, Indrani. Pompei is a fascinating place indeed.
Happy Sunday!
Sad times remembered. Thanks for the sharing.
What a grand history lesson in photos. Your captures are excellent. I enjoyed every tiny bit of this post. Thanks so much for sharing.
What a grand history lesson in photos. Your captures are excellent. I enjoyed every tiny bit of this post. Thanks so much for sharing.
Wow awesome!
Thank you for sharing Indrani.
Enjoy the weekend.
आपको क्रिसमस की शुभकामनाये
नव वर्ष की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं
आपको और आपके परिवार को मकर संक्रांति के पर्व की ढेरों शुभकामनाएँ !"
Excellent post
Wonderful photos! It would be a dream come true if I ever get there too!
This is a most interesting and instructive post! I saw once a documentary about the eruption of Vesuvius. It was very scary and terrible how a complete population is wiped of the face of the earth.
Thanks for sharing.
What a fine post on a fascinating subject, Indrani!
Great shots of the place. Kids love it, when they get to see the place that they learn in the school.
I share your feelings about pompeii. Walking through the place gave me the shivers !
An amazing historical site of extra ordinary beauty and interest.
I've always wanted to go to Pompei! Thank you so much for bringing me there, Indrani!!
Fascinating post. Pompei is just amazing.
I only knew Pompii through history channel and also by reading the books. For a 3 meters of lava who could survive that, it's really a total devastation. Thanks for the info and the photos. Happy weekend!
Indrani, wonderful photos. What a great place to visit. Your photos really show it off very well.
Indrani,your photographs brought back wonderful memories of my Mediterranean cruise and the day my girlfriend and I spent at Pompei. It is an awesome place. The whole time I was there, I was filled with sadness, thinking of the terror the inhabitants must have felt at having their whole world erupt around them as they were buried alive by lava and ash. Living, as I do, in an earthquake prone area, not very far from Mt. St. Helens which erupted in recent years, I wondered if this could ever happen on the West Coast.
Our next stop after Pompei, was in Sicily, where we saw Mt. Etna smoking. I understand that, today, there was lava spewing there!
Fascinating and very sad at the same time. Thanks for sharing this interesting post.
What a fascinating post. Your feelings come across so powerfully. Thank you for this personal view of such a historic place.
Fascinating, amazing – and those dead humans – a little nightmarish.
fascinating!! another place I would love to visit sometime…. mt vesuvius looks so deceptively calm and peaceful in the background!
captivating photos, fascinating post. with many active volcanoes in my part of the world, Pompeii gave me nightmares as a kid, especially after we experienced an ash fall when i was about 8. what a great experience for you and your children to walk on this place.
beautiful post well illustrated
You have given us marvels!
Thank you
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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Pompeii has fascinated me when I was a kid. Glad your shared your photos and experiences there.
Fantastic shots.
Sydney – City and Suburbs
That must have been such an interesting place to visit. The photographs are wonderful.
These are some of the best pictures of Pompeii that I have seen. You did a wonderful job of capturing the sense of loss and devastation. Thanks for taking us with you.
Wow! So amazing! Pompeii has always fascinated me as well!! Powerful visit you have had. Thanks for sharing!
The pictures are great!
Hugs
SueAnn
HI INDRANI
THANKS FOR THIS LOVEY PICTURES, EVEN TIME YOU MAKE ME HAPPY WITH THIS NICE PHOTO'S
GREETINGS, JOOP
What a mesmerizing post and photos, Indrani! I, too, have always been fascinated by Pompeii and wish so much that I could have visited there although from what I've read and photos I've seen over the years, I get the same feeling that you did — silent, empty, devastated and still mourning.
Sylvia