Wondering why you should tour the city of Pompeii ASAP?
History of Pompeii
Pompeii was once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city. However, in 79 A.D., the city was buried under meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The people of Pompeii did not even realize that Vesuvius was a volcano. It had not erupted in over 1800 years.
Mount Vesuvius Volcano
Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano on mainland Europe and is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. It has erupted about three dozen times since the famous Pompeii eruption and it is still active. Vesuvius last erupted in March of 1944 and will inevitably erupt again! If Pompeii is on your bucket list, it might be time to book your trip before history repeats itself!
Human Remains Covered in Ash
After Mount Vesuvius erupted, the city of Pompeii was abandoned until 1748 when a group of explorers found buildings, artifacts, and skeletons underneath a thick layer of ash and debris. On your tour, you will see molds of both human and animal remains that were found throughout the city.
The Famous Dog of Pompeii
One of these famous remains is the “Dog of Pompeii, “Archeologists found him in the house of Marcus Vesonius Primus. It is believed that he was left to guard the house and was unable to escape when the eruption occurred. In the picture below, he is laying on his back with his legs in the air.
Why Take an Escorted Tour of Pompeii?
If you are planning to visit Pompeii, I highly recommend taking an escorted tour. Booking a guided tour will allow you to skip the long line for tickets. You will also be able to see all of the best sights of the city in just a few short hours. The city of Pompeii is 170 acres. Without a guide, it would most likely take you multiple days to explore this vast city.
Helpful Tip: When you tour Pompeii, make sure to get the big bottle of water at the café outside the entrance. You will not be able to buy water once you pass through the gates and trust me, you will need it! There is a lot of walking involved and it gets extremely hot, especially during the summer months.
Lots of Walking on Your Pompeii Tour!
As I mentioned previously, Pompeii is 170 acres so there is a lot of ground to cover. You should make sure that you wear comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking!
The streets of Pompeii are full of big rocks, many of which protrude out of the ground. The rocks shown in the picture below were designed to keep outsiders from bringing their carriages into the city. Now they just make clumsy people like me trip over my own two feet! As if I needed any help in that department!
Touring the City of Love
Pompeii is frequently referred to as “The City of Love” because many of the buildings and streets have carvings of a phallus. During our tour, I learned that the phallus carvings were not meant to be erotic in nature, but instead were considered a symbol of good fortune.
Visiting the Brothels
My favorite part of the Pompeii tour was the brothel. I was shocked to learn that the beds were made out of stone. This was done so that the “customers” did not get too comfortable and stay too long. I guess, their motto was “hit it and quit it”!
Exploring the Amphitheater
The Amphitheater in Pompeii is considered the oldest stone building of its kind, dating back to 80 BC. It was the primary center of organized entertainment for the citizens of Pompeii, hosting circus shows and gladiatorial games
Thermopolia- Pompeii’s McDonald’s
The city of Pompeii had approximately 150 fast food stands, also known as Thermopolia. These snack bars, like the one pictured below, were primarily used by the poorer residents, who didn’t have access to cooking facilities in their homes. Typical fare included coarse bread with salty fish, baked cheese, lentils and wine.
Visiting the Temples of Pompeii
When you tour Pompeii, you will see some gorgeous artwork in many of the temples. I found the detail of the art decorating the ceilings and the walls, absolutely amazing!
Pompeii Tour- That’s a Wrap!
The Vesuvius volcano has erupted three dozen times since the legendary Pompeii eruption and will inevitably go off again! Don’t miss out on your opportunity to visit this legendary ancient Roman city while you still can!
I can safely say that I learned more Roman history during my three hour tour of Pompeii than I ever learned in school. And if you are planning to visit, I highly recommend an organized Pompeii tour. The lost city is way too big to explore by yourself and taking a private tour allows you to skip the long lines! The ticket lines can take an hour or more and baking in the hot sun while waiting is not a fun way to start the day!
Next stop, a quick lunch at the port before boarding the hydrofoil to the Island of Capri!
