My daughter and I decided we simply couldn't go to Italy without seeing Pompeii. It was one of those places we had dreamed about visiting but never really thought we'd get the chance to see. Like so many places on this trip, I wasn't quite prepared for what I was about to experience.
Walking through the ancient streets of Pompeii, with Mount Vesuvius rising in the distance, was awe-inspiring. Everywhere we looked, there were reminders of the people who had lived here nearly 2,000 years ago.
Pompeii: A City Frozen in Time
Pompeii was an ancient Roman city located near the Bay of Naples in what is now southern Italy. In AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering Pompeii in volcanic ash and pumice and preserving an extraordinary amount of the city beneath the layers of debris.
The eruption was catastrophic. Thousands of people died, while many others appear to have escaped before the city was completely buried. For centuries, Pompeii remained hidden until excavations began, eventually revealing streets, houses, shops, public buildings, artwork, mosaics and everyday objects that provide an incredible glimpse into Roman life.
What makes Pompeii so remarkable is not simply the age of the ruins. It is the everyday nature of what was preserved.
Jars, tables, fountains, ovens, paintings, mosaics and even the ruts made by ancient carts in the stone streets help tell the story of a busy Mediterranean city that was suddenly interrupted.
And then there is Vesuvius.
Standing in the middle of an ancient street and looking toward the volcano that destroyed the city is an experience that is difficult to put into words.
Our Visit to Pompeii
We hired a private guide and driver, Roberto, to take us from our cruise ship to Pompeii and then continue on to the Amalfi Coast.
Roberto dropped us off near the entrance to the archaeological site, and we had only about an hour and a half to explore which is not much time to explore such an enormous place.
My daughter and I practically ran through Pompeii!
I put my camera on sport mode and started snapping photographs as we hurried from one area to another. Looking back at the pictures now, I'm amazed at how much we actually saw in such a short amount of time.
The Forum: The Heart of Pompeii
The Forum was the economic, political and religious center of ancient Pompeii.
This large open area was the heart of the city, where business was conducted, political matters were discussed and religious ceremonies took place. Surrounded by important public buildings and temples, it would have been one of the busiest places in Pompeii.
Today, it is strangely quiet.
As you walk through the ruins, it takes some imagination to picture the crowds that once filled these spaces.
The House of the Faun
One of the most impressive homes in Pompeii is the House of the Faun, a huge residence that covered an enormous area of the city.
The house gets its name from the small bronze statue of a dancing faun discovered in one of its main rooms.
The size and decoration of the house give us an idea of just how wealthy some Pompeii residents were. There were courtyards, gardens, rooms for entertaining and beautifully decorated spaces.
One of the things I found fascinating throughout Pompeii was the contrast between the grand homes of the wealthy and the much simpler homes and shops nearby.
It wasn't a city of just wealthy Romans living in enormous villas. People from many different walks of life lived and worked here, often just steps away from one another.
Walking the Ancient Streets
The streets of Pompeii were one of my favorite parts of the visit.
It is one thing to see a photograph of an ancient Roman road, but it is another thing entirely to walk down one.
The large stone paving blocks, sidewalks and stepping stones are still visible, and in many places you can see the deep tracks left by ancient carts.
The city had an organized street system, with homes, shops, bakeries, public buildings and businesses lining the roads.
Some of the street crossings are particularly interesting. Large stepping stones allowed pedestrians to cross the streets while avoiding the water and waste that could flow along the roadway.
Looking at these streets, I couldn't help but think about how ordinary life must have looked here before the eruption.
People walking to work.
Children playing.
Merchants opening their shops.
Neighbors talking in the street.
Life happening just as it does in any city.
And then, suddenly, it stopped.
The Mosaics and Paintings
Before visiting Pompeii, I had imagined mostly gray stone ruins. Instead, we found beautiful mosaics, colorful walls and decorative artwork throughout the city.
Some of the details were incredibly intricate.
The mosaics especially surprised me. After nearly two thousand years, it is amazing to see how much of the artwork has survived.
Even the walls themselves could be beautiful. I remember stopping to admire one particular wall simply because I thought it was gorgeous.
These aren't just ruins. They are pieces of someone's home, someone's business and someone's everyday life.
Pompeii in March
One of the best things about visiting Pompeii in March was how quiet it was.
Look at some of these streets!
There were very few people around compared with what you might expect at one of Italy's most famous archaeological sites.
March turned out to be a wonderful time for us to travel around Italy. We weren't dealing with the huge crowds that arrive during the summer, and the cooler temperatures made walking around the ruins much more comfortable.
Of course, there is a trade-off with traveling in the off-season, but for Pompeii, I loved having room to wander and actually stop to look at things without feeling rushed by a crowd.
Although we were already rushing because of our limited time!
A Day I Will Never Forget
Looking back at these photographs brings back just how incredible it felt to be there.
Pompeii isn't the kind of place where you simply check off a sightseeing list and move on.
You walk down an ancient street and suddenly notice the remains of a bakery. You look into a home and see a mosaic that someone carefully created almost two thousand years ago. You stand in the Forum and realize that people once gathered in exactly the same place.
And then you look up and see Mount Vesuvius in the background.
That's the moment that really gets you. The volcano is still there. The streets are still there. Parts of the homes are still there.
And for a brief moment, it feels as though you are walking through the city alongside the people who once called Pompeii home.
And Then… Pizza!
After all that walking—and all that running through Pompeii—my daughter and I were more than ready for something to eat.
We had some fun while we waited for our pizza.
And let me tell you…
This pizza was amazing!
Everything tasted so fresh, and after a speedy tour exploring Pompeii, sitting down to a good Italian pizza was the perfect ending to our visit.
It was one of those travel days that had everything: ancient history, incredible scenery, a little bit of exhaustion, lots of photographs, and really good food.
Visiting Pompeii
If Pompeii is on your Italy itinerary, give yourself as much time as you can. We only had about an hour and a half, and while we managed to see quite a bit, I would have loved to slow down and explore more of the city.
A map can be helpful because the archaeological site is extensive and the streets can be confusing. A guided tour or audio guide can also add a lot of context to what you're seeing.
But even if you don't know every detail of Roman history, simply walking the streets of Pompeii is an unforgettable experience.
For me, the most powerful part wasn't one particular building or artifact.
It was simply being there.
Walking through a real ancient city, seeing the places where people lived their ordinary lives, with Mount Vesuvius standing in the distance, made history feel incredibly real.
Pompeii is one of those places I will always be grateful that I got to see.
Some places you visit. Others stay with you. Pompeii is one of those places.
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