A Trip to Pompeii

I finally made it to the renowned ancient Roman town of Pompeii!

Entering through the ancient city walls and walking on the original paving, past uniquely well preserved civic buildings, villas, restaurants etc; you feel as though you are walking among the very ancients who suffered such a terrible fate from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.

The highlights for me were the fantastic villas, such as the largest in Pompeii, named the House of the Faun after the bronze statue in the courtyard.

This villa was also the location of the famous mosaic of Alexander the Greats victory over the Persian king Darius, now displayed in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

A visit to the Archaeological Museum is a must, it contains many treasures discovered in Pompeii and surrounding towns such as Herculaneum since excavations began in the 18th century.

Outside the city walls on the outskirts of Pompeii, the Villa of Mysteries maintains its fantastic frescos, its name is derived from the large fresco in the dining room depicting a mysterious wedding ritual.

These frescos remain in situ, but many more of the originals can also admired in the museum.

Pompeii is a unique time capsule, providing a window onto life in the ancient world. With much of the site still remaining to be excavated, just imagine what treasures have yet to be discovered.

All photographs are taken by the author and can be used as part of the Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs creative commons licence.