Scavi di Pompei — Attraction in Pompei

The most astonishing fact about Pompeii is that a lot of what we think of as "modern" inventions were found again and again in the ancient city, except her people accomplished these feats with technology from 2000 years ago, though I won't spoil anything here. I highly recommend my tour guide who pointed out these intricate details and told awe-inspiring historical tales, which were like hidden jewels that I would definitely have missed by myself. Walking through Pompeii without a guide would be like admiring a book's beautiful cover, without knowing the stories within. Also there are modern additions, restorations or otherwise, added in Pompeii that could easily have been misinterpreted as ancient. The guide helped me distinguish them.

If you would like to also have my guide, Ciro, search for "Gaetano's Pompeii Tours" and remember to do this early especially for summer due to the high demand.

More details: I have always dreamed of visiting Pompeii and got a chance 20+ years later when I could go with my two children in late 2022. Luckily, I found out about my guide from Rick Steves' Forum who is a 4th generation Pompeii tour guide with 3 generations of knowledge and insights distilled in him!

In the beginning the guide gave an overview of how Pompeii functioned as a Roman city and the types of people who came to Pompeii. We stepped right into the city and history came alive! At the different buildings or sites, he told stories that brought back to life the people who lived there through the architecture they left behind. There were lots of similar types of houses in Pompeii, and Ciro took me to the quintessential structures, the most beautiful of each type. He also helped us take many pictures, suggesting popular sites. My kids were small and often lingered at different places, He was very accommodating and never rushed them, he would patiently continue telling me about Pompeii while the kids were playing on the side. It was definitely worth the money to have a private tour if you have small kids.

The 2 hours of tour was so fascinating that the time flew by, then I extended the tour 1 more hour where we walked to see some more unique architecture as well as visiting the Antiquarium where Ciro pointed out more often-missed facts of the artifacts there. After the tour, I explored some other areas of Pompeii by myself with the kids, it was a huge place! Where else in the world could you walk in an authentic time capsule the size of a city?!

Going to Pompeii was a dream come true, and Ciro's tour made it beyond my dreams where I can now love and respect not only Pompeii, but cherish the intricate details woven in the architecture, the paintings, and the small but genuine items that were suddenly left behind, all telling stories of how the ancient Pompeiians thrived, and in many ways just like us today. Their fate was a tragedy but a present sealed in time for us, unwrapped 2 millennia later, to remind us even today, that every day is a present. Thank you Ciro. Thank...

Don’t be fooled by the ‘ticket offices’ at the train station or online. Buy your tickets at the official site or ticket office right at the main entrance, just a short walk from the train station and car park.

See below highly recommended itineraries to not miss the real highlights, get lost and overwhelmed.

Very impressive and big archeological site of the port city buried under Vesuvius volcanic ash and stones in the year AD 79, almost 2000 years ago.

Most people spend around 3 hours here (regular ticket), but we enjoyed more than 6 hours to visit the whole site. For that take the Pompeii plus ticket, so you can also visit the highlights Villa dei Misteri and Villa di Diomede in the northwest corner of the park. Bring water bottles (can be filled up at various spots), hats, and sunscreen, because very few shade around. Also an umbrella in case of a chance of rain, since not a lot of roofs to stay dry under.

As the whole side is rather overwhelming, to have an idea where to go to see the main sights in a logistically efficient way will be of great help. The following itineraries are from the official site’s Pompeii guidebook (with the number on the official site map you can get at the ticket office for free).

From the main gate, next to the Pompei Scavi Villa Dei Misteri train station, at the southwestern corner: Porta Marina (2), Antiquarium (small museum), Civic Forum (6), Stabian Baths (40).

From here you can take the northwest itinerary (Villa of the Mysteries) or the southeast itinerary (Amphitheatre).

Northwest itinerary: Stabian Baths (40), Brothel Lupanar (39), House of the Faun (17), House of the Vetii (36), House of the Tragic Poet (22), Porta Ercolano (27; from here you need the plus ticket) and cemetery Necropoli (28), Diomede's Villa, and Villa of the Mysteries (30).

Southeast itinerary: Stabian Baths (40), Triangular Forum (41,42), large Theatre (43), Gladiators’ Barracks (44), Odeion (45), House of Menander (51), House of the Cryptoporticus, Fullonica of Stephanus (52), House of Paquius Proculus, House of the Ephebe, House of the Giulius Polibius (54), House of the Orchard, House of Octavius Quartius (58), House of Venus in the Shell (59), Amphitheatre (60), large Palaestra (61), Fortifications (62), cemetery of Porta Nocera (63), Garden of the Fugitives (56).

You are now closer to the southeast gate near Pompeii train station. So if you start here, you can do the itineraries in...

We opted to visit Pompei ourselves and not as part of a tour. We got the train from Naples which took approx 30min & few euro return. The entrance to Pompei was literally across the street from the stop & before returning on the train we also enjoyed a nice late lunch & drink in one of the eateries on the street!

I had pre-booked our tickets online & was able to go into the fast track Q - poor weather & time of year meant not very big Qs, however i would imagine it could be pretty hectic at other times! You get a map on entry & audio guides are available.

It got busier in the afternoon & one warning was the Q for the ladies toilets (mens was fine, they just walked on in). The only toilets I saw available were near the entrance & attached to the coffee shop (something to think about if u going to walk down to the ampitheatre) - we didnt eat here as it was so busy with a very large group of young students.

There is a lot to see, sometimes easy to get lost in vast streets which mostly looked very similar. Interesting music exhibit in the Ampitheatre, so worth a walk down & across from it there is a large building displaying different archi finds, such as coins & jewelry.

Some sites you see, feel quite harrowing on reflection but its hard not to look at the city in awe & wonder at the sheer size, what it must have been like to live there prior to the eruption & the utter devastation it caused.

I am glad i chose not to do a tour, as i was able to explore at my own pace but also finish up when i wanted... we were able to capture some interesting facts from tour guides speaking as we went round though!! As expected a lot of walking involved & mostly the surfaces are very uneven! Although i did see people less abled with walking sticks, as well as people with prams or carrying children - i would be wary on recommending it - but each to their own!

Overall an interesting experience which i am glad to say I have seen, not neccessarily a place I would ever return to but if you are in debate - its...