The location of Pompei

The location of Pompei
Daily Life in Ancient Pompei
Pompei’s Early History
Pompei – A Snapshot of an Ancient Roman Town
Leading up to the Eruption of the Vesuvius
The rediscovery of Pompeii
Pompei Today

The ruins of Pompeii are situated near the modern town of Pompei, just south of Naples.

There are several entrances to the ruins, that can easily be reached on foot from the modern city.

From Naples Pompeii can be visited through FS trains or through the so-called Circumvesuviana, which runs directly to the excavations.

From Rome it is best to take a train to Naples and then the Circumvesuviana, which makes for a very pleasant day trip.

There are several car parks near the archeological site.

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Daily Life in Ancient Pompei

The location of Pompei
Daily Life in Ancient Pompei
Pompei’s Early History
Pompei – A Snapshot of an Ancient Roman Town
Leading up to the Eruption of the Vesuvius
The rediscovery of Pompeii
Pompei Today

In ancient times Pompeii would have been nearer the coast than it is nowadays. It was an important passage for goods that arrived by sea and had to be sent toward Rome or Southern Italy along the Appian Way.

The ground around Pompeii was very fertile and agriculture, oil and wine production were important.

Pompeii’s streets were straight and laid out in a grid, in the purest Roman tradition and had houses and shops on both sides of the street.

There was even a hotel (now nicknamed the “Grand Hotel Murecine) a short distance from the town.

Pompeii got its water from the Aqua Augusta aqueduct in Naples, built by Agrippa around 20 BC.

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Pompei’s Early History

The location of Pompei
Daily Life in Ancient Pompei
Pompei’s Early History
Pompei – A Snapshot of an Ancient Roman Town
Leading up to the Eruption of the Vesuvius
The rediscovery of Pompeii
Pompei Today

Pompeii, as deeper diggings show, had already suffered from landslides and volcanic eruptions before the 79 AD catastrophe.

The archaeological digs at the site extend to the street level of the 79 AD volcanic event. The oldest layer has been dated to the 8^th-6^th centuries BC, but the excavations the way tourists can visit them now show the 79AD Pompeii.

Pompeii was founded by the Oscans, and during the first centuries of its existence captured by the Etruscans (a 6^th century necropolis has been excavated), by the Greek colony of Cumae, and the Samnites.

After the Samnite wars (5^th century BC) Pompeii was forced to accept the status of socium of Rome, maintaining administrative autonomy however.

After a couple of wars against the Romans Pompeii finally became a Roman colony in 80 BC. It came to be called Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum.

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Pompei – A Snapshot of an Ancient Roman Town

The location of Pompei
Daily Life in Ancient Pompei
Pompei’s Early History
Pompei – A Snapshot of an Ancient Roman Town
Leading up to the Eruption of the Vesuvius
The rediscovery of Pompeii
Pompei Today

Pompeii was buried and frozen in its existence on 24 August 79. The scavi show the very smallest details of everyday life, through inscriptions and graffiti on walls and floors, but also wine jars. An example of this is the inscription Salve, lucru (Welcome, money) on the floor of a trading company.

At the time of the eruption Pompeii is thought to have had 20,000 inhabitants and many Romans had their holiday villas there.

Large numbers of frescoes, often erotic in nature, have been preserved. Many of these ended up hidden in the vaults of the University of Naples.

Among the best preserved remains of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii are several houses, baths and the Forum and the Villa of the Mysteries. A great food market, a mill and a number of bars and small restaurants were also found.

In 89 BC, after the annexation to the Roman Republic by General Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Pompeii’s infrastructure improved vastly.

The amphitheatre, the gym (Palaestra) with its swimming pool and especially the aqueduct are worth mentioning.

The Aqueduct branched out from the Castellum Aquae and was made in such a way that in case of drought the public fountains would be the last ones to stop functioning.

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Leading up to the Eruption of the Vesuvius

The location of Pompei
Daily Life in Ancient Pompei
Pompei’s Early History
Pompei – A Snapshot of an Ancient Roman Town
Leading up to the Eruption of the Vesuvius
The rediscovery of Pompeii
Pompei Today

Pompeii’s inhabitants had long been used to minor quaking but on 5 February 62 a severe quake caused considerable damage around the bay and particularly to Pompeii.

That day there were to be two sacrifices, as it was the anniversary of Augustus being named “Father of the Nation” and one to honor the guardian spirits of the city.

Fires added to the panic and it is thought that most of the buildings in Pompeii were at least somewhat affected by this quake.

Some rebuilding was done, but some of the damage had still not been repaired when Mount Vesuvius erupted again in 79, partly due to smaller eruptions that kept taking place.

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The rediscovery of Pompeii

The location of Pompei
Daily Life in Ancient Pompei
Pompei’s Early History
Pompei – A Snapshot of an Ancient Roman Town
Leading up to the Eruption of the Vesuvius
The rediscovery of Pompeii
Pompei Today

Thick layers of ash covered the two towns, Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were abandoned and eventually forgotten.

In 1738 Herculaneum was rediscovered by when the King of Naples, Charles of Bourbon, wanted to have a summer palace built.

Pompeii itself was found ten years later, although in reality Domenico Fontana had already discovered both towns when digging a new course for the Sarno river in 1599.

After the first excavations under Karl Weber several architects led the proceedings, but it was Giuseppe Fiorelli who realized that the voids with human remains in the layers of ash were spaces left by the decomposed bodies.

He devised a technique to inject plaster into the spaces and thus create the forms of Mount Vesuvius’ victims. Fiorelli’s technique is still in use, albeit with resin instead of plaster.

Some of the erotic frescoes are thought to have been reburied by Fontana in accordance with the prudish times he lived in.

Pompei Hotels Hotels in Naples Sorrento Hotels Hotels in Rome Little Italy B&B Rome Chaplin Hostel Rome

Pompei Today

The location of Pompei
Daily Life in Ancient Pompei
Pompei’s Early History
Pompei – A Snapshot of an Ancient Roman Town
Leading up to the Eruption of the Vesuvius
The rediscovery of Pompeii
Pompei Today

Pompeii, now part of a larger Vesuvius National Park, is the most popular tourist attraction in Italy with 2.5 million visitors a year.

The Soprintendenza Archaeologica di Pompei have tried to alleviate the pressure on the city by issuing tickets that also allow tourists to visit Herculaneum, Stabiae and the Villa Poppaea as well.

UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site by in 1997.

Unfortunately Pompeii has been subject to both natural and man-made forces (erosion, water damage, poor methods of excavation, vandalism, theft and, of course, tourism), which have worsened the deterioration.

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Pompei 2 Star Hotels – Villa dei Misteri

Pompei Hotel Villa dei Misteri Description Feedback Reservation

The Hotel Villa dei Misteri in Pompei gets its name from the adjacent ruins of an old villa (The Villa dei Misteri), where allegedly the initiation rites of the dionysian cult were celebrated.

The Villa dei Misteri Hotel can really be said to be located in the heart of Pompei, being almost equidistant from the Circumvesuviana railway station, the entrance to the highway to Naples and Rome and to Pompei’s most wellknown and important tourist attraction, the scavi or excavations.

There is ample parking space at the hotel, for private cars as well as coaches. Villa dei Misteri also boasts a swimming pool (9am-9pm) with a solarium. The property has its own restaurant (12.30-2.30pm and 7.30-10.30pm) and bar (7.30am-10.30pm). During the summer months you can enjoy your dinner seated on a covered terrace by the Hotel Villa dei Misteri’s swimming pool.

The 33 rooms of the Hotel Villa dei Misteri are equipped with private bathroom. The furniture is standard: a small writing desk, two chairs, a wardrobe and two bedside tables, plus a luggage cart. Note that not all of the rooms have air-conditioning.

All the facilities of the hotel are handicapped-friendly, as are two of the property’s rooms.

The Hotel is family-run and the atmosphere relaxed and laid-back.

Hotels in Pompei, Italy

Many tourists in Italy only grant Pompei a short visit, ofthe no more than a day trip from Naples or Rome. However it is not a bad idea to choose Pompei (or Pompeii, people seem to write it both ways) as a starting point for excursions in the area. The volcano Vesuvius, Herculaneum, the Greek temple of Paestum, small and picturesque towns like Sorrento and Positano and naturally Naples itself all constitute tourist attractions that can easily be reached from Pompei. Apart from that the best pizzas I have ever eaten I have eaten in Pompei. Here follows a list of good and affordable hotels in Pompei:

Pompei 4 star hotels

Hotel Palma (Via Piave, 15)

The Hotel Palma has 30 rooms, every one of which with private bathrooms and air-conditioning. Each room is equipped with color tv, minibar and a small safe. Non-smoking rooms can be requested. Some of the rooms of the Hotel Palma in Pompei are equipped for the handicapped. The hotel’s position, only 50 meters from the Circumvesuviana railway station and 500 meters from the excavations is perfect. The hotel has its own restaurant (though not all guests are equally positive about it). Without exception, former guests of the Hotel Palma describe the staff as friendly and helpful. There are parking places in fromt of the hotel.

Hotel Maiuri (Via Acquasalsa, 20)

Every room of the elegant Maiuri Hotel in Pompei is equipped with air conditioning and satellite TV; it is situated slightly further from the center of Pompei, which can still be easily reached on foot however. Cars can be parked both in front of the hotel and in a garage; the hotel Maiuri has a private bus connection to the airport; excursions are organized through the hotel.

Pompei 3 star hotel

Hotel Diana Pompei (Vicolo Sant’Abbondio, 12)

All rooms of the cozy Hotel Diana Pompei have air conditioning, colour tv, telefphone, an internet connection, hair-dryer and towel-heater. The hotel offers an ample and delicious breakfast. Staff speaks English and is reported to be extremely helpful. The Pompei Hotel Diana is only a short walk from the ruins.

Pompei 2 star hotel

Hotel Villa dei Misteri (Via Villa dei Misteri, 11)

This hotel is situated at no more than a couple of hundred meters from the scavi (excavations). It is one of the few hotels with swimming pool in Pompei . Staff, according to guest feedback would seem to be slightly less friendly than in other Pompei hotels. On the plus side, even Americans report positively about the size of he Hotel Villa dei Misteri’s rooms.

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Of course there are many more good and affordable hotels in Pompei. The Venere homepage offers an almost complete list of Pompei Hotels, with descriptions of the hotel rooms and guest feedback about the quality of the accommodation in question.