With the hot Summer days finally over, people in Pompeii were enjoying the cooler temperatures of Fall. Wagons and chariots traversed the streets, merchants were open, the sidewalks busy with shoppers and workers. Then ash and volcanic debris began to drift down from the sky.

It was that day in October, 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted and life came to a standstill for the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. For two days, the cities were inundated with pumice rain followed by scorching ash clouds. When it was finally over, both cities as well as their inhabitants were buried beneath 6m (over 19ft) of volcanic material. Life had come to a stop.

It wasn’t until we actually stepped through the gate of Porta Marina and entered the excavation site, could we grasp the magnitude of the devastation nor the beauty of this once flourishing city.

Exploring Pompeii

Pompeii was a very carefully planned city, even modern for its time. The main roads were paved with huge flat stones able to handle heavy weights. Deep ruts can be seen, a reminder of how dynamic this busy city once was. Curbing raised the sidewalks above the streets, allowing rainwater to flow away from the storefronts while keeping pedestrians safe from the chariots and wagons.

The narrow side streets led us past buildings showing brick arches and remnants of the painted facades. It was evident Pompeii was not a small, nondescript Italian village.

Pompeii’s Marketplace

Walking further up the main streets, we pass the remnants of the former vendor shops and outdoor food stalls. Bakeries, bars, restaurants created a bustling market district. Even though the destruction was massive, it is still easy to visualize how active and vibrant life was before the eruption.

A marble food counter (or Thermopolium) with four circular holes used to hold terracotta pots filled with food faced one of the main roads. Not unlike fast-food of today, we could imagine Pompeians stopping for a quick bite while going about their busy days.

View Pompeii’s Graffiti

Graffiti can be found throughout Pompeii. These ancient handwritten wall inscriptions and drawings were actually a form of communicating everything from political views to a person’s status.

Unfortunately, tourists have decided to leave their marks as well.

Visit Pompeii’s Brothels

Brothels were popular and plentiful in Pompeii, but were also demeaning. The majority of sex workers were unpaid slaves owned by the brothel owners and often abused. The rooms were cramped and typically featured only a stone bed. Graphic murals are still evident on the walls.

Explore Pompeii’s Residences

Pompeii had a very diverse population: an upper class, middle class and lower class. For the wealthy, the residences were opulent featuring columns and beautiful mosaic stonework.

Pompeii’s infrastructure was quite advanced with running water supplied to the entire city by a large water tank constantly filled by an aquaduct. Public water fountains, toilets and a complex drainage system that channeled water into an underground sewer system were a testament to Roman engineering. The plumbing systems in many residences was advanced as well with many having an impluvium (drain pool) located in the center of an atrium. Rainwater would drain from the roof into the impluvium and then channel into an underground cistern to be used for household purposes. The roof opening also allowed light to flow into the home.

The interiors were painted in bright colors with handprinted borders and frescoes.

Visit The House Of Vetti

The epitome of wealth in Pompeii, the House of Vetti belonged to Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus, two wealthy wine merchants. The 1,100m² home is one of the most important structures in Pompeii. Filled with elaborate frescoes, bronze and marble sculptures it opened to the public in 2023 after 20 years of restoration.

Plan To Be Moved

Pompeii is different from other sites we have visited. Unlike an ancient burial ground, cemetery or tomb where people were buried after they died, Pompeians were buried while they were alive. This is a chilling difference when viewing the casts of the bodies lying still in their final positions while trying to protect themselves from the falling ash. Men, women, children, pets, horses, all were suddenly made silent.

Tour The Odeon Theater

Built around 79 BC, the Odeon Theater was the smallest of two theaters in Pompeii. Primarily used for mimes and musical performances, it is believed the structure was ornately decorated and completely covered by a roof.

The Forum

The Forum was the center of life in Pompeii. A public square so large that it could accommodate the entire population. It was here that religious and civic ceremonies took place as well as being the location of a thriving market. A vibrant part of the city, the Forum became a popular gathering spot for residents to meet and share the news of the day.

Temple Of Jupitar

The Temple of Jupiter, built in 150 BC, dominated the north side of the Forum. The chief god of the Roman pantheon, Jupiter was considered the divine protector of the city as well as the Roman state. The impressive Temple was the heart of Roman civilization, symbolizing sovereignty and immortality.

A digital reconstruction of the Temple created by NeoMam Studios and THISISRENDER in collaberation with Expedia depicts how the Temple may have looked when it was created.

The Forum Statues

The Forum was filled with sculptures and statues representing emperors, Roman gods, religious leaders and proud warriors. Many of the original works have been transferred to museums throughout Italy and replaced with reproductions. And, not everything we saw was ancient. Scattered throughout the Forum we found relatively recent works including a bronze sculpture of Centaur standing in the center of the Forum. Although it appears old, it is actually a modern day sculpture created in 1994 by the Polish artist Igor Mitoraj for an exhibition organized by Pompeii’s Superintendency, the Art Gallery Contini and the Atelier Mitoraj.

Igor Mitoraj’s work is also on permanent display in the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy.

A reproduction of the bronze statue of Apollo stands in front of the Temple of Apollo. One of the first to be excavated in Pompeii, it originally held a bow and arrow. The actual statue is on display at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples, Italy.

A bronze sculpture of the Greek mythological craftsman Daedalus stands at the entrance to the ancient city and overlooking the modern day city of Pompeii. Another creation by the Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj, it is one of 30 works displayed by the artist who died in 2014.

Experiencing Pompeii will be like no other site you have visited. If you take the time to walk along the now abandoned roads and streets once filled with activity, visualize what once was a vibrant and robust city, and view the remains of those Pompeiians frozen in time, it becomes clear there is much more here than merely ruins.

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