Pompeii
Latest update: 11 March 2022
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The Pompeii Archaeological Park is located in the Metropolitan City of Naples province around 20 kilometres from Naples city centre.
Since 1997 it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the nearby archaeological sites of Herculaneum and Villa Oplontis. |
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Pompeii was an ancient Roman city destroyed by the volcanic eruption of neighbouring Mount Vesuvius on the 24 August 79 AD.
The city was buried underneath between 4 to 6 metres of ash and pumice and remained lost to the world until around 1748 when a Spanish engineer decided to excavate the site.
Due to the lack of air and moisture caused by the burial, many of the artefacts in the city were incredibly well preserved whilst one of the techniques used by the engineers created a morbid yet fascinating discovery. In order to fill the gaps beneath the ground to aid the excavation, plaster was poured into the voids where the human bodies had once lain, and what can now be seen at Pompeii are plaster-casts of those bodies in the exact position they were in when they died.
The city was buried underneath between 4 to 6 metres of ash and pumice and remained lost to the world until around 1748 when a Spanish engineer decided to excavate the site.
Due to the lack of air and moisture caused by the burial, many of the artefacts in the city were incredibly well preserved whilst one of the techniques used by the engineers created a morbid yet fascinating discovery. In order to fill the gaps beneath the ground to aid the excavation, plaster was poured into the voids where the human bodies had once lain, and what can now be seen at Pompeii are plaster-casts of those bodies in the exact position they were in when they died.
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Opening-times:
Winter: (November to March) Mon - Fri: 09:00 - 17:00, Sat & Sun: 08:30 - 17:00 Last entry: 15:30 Summer: (April to October) Mon - Fri: 09:00 - 19:30, Sat & Sun: 08:30 - 19:30 Last entry: 18:00 |
Prices:
Full price: €16 Pompeii, Villa Oplontis and Boscoreale Joint Ticket: €18 EU Citizens aged 18-24: €2 Under 18's: Free Closed on: 1st January, 1st May, 25th December |
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Comune: Naples
Province: Metropolitan City of Naples Region: Campania Nearest train station: Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri Close by: Mount Vesuvius, Castellammare di Stabia, Herculaneum Recommended accommodation: Hotel Pompei Be Green |
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UNESCO World Heritage Site
Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata Year: 1997 |
Top Attraction
Annual visitor numbers: 3,935,791 Ranked number 3 in Italy in 2019 Source: Italian Ministry of Culture and Tourism |
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