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Pompeii, Italy Port Reviews
Pompeii, Italy On Your Own Shore Excursion
By Tom Ogg
A Street In Pompeii
At dawn on August 25th,
79AD Mount Vesuvious erupted spewing ash and embers upon
the villages that lined the coast along the
Mediterranean completely burying entire villages. By the
time it was over, the villages were entirely buried with
all of its inhabitants along with it. Time stopped for
thousands of people who perished in the event. Pompeii
was the largest village and was completely buried for
almost 2,000 years. Today, you can visit Pompeii's ruins
and see first hand how folks were living in 79AD, as the
preservation of the structures is like they were stored
in a perfect medium for centuries. A visit to Pompeii
will capture everyone's imagination and interest.
The Train to Pompeii in
Naples
The private Circumvesuviana
train runs between Naples and Sorrento and makes several
stops along the way. Purchase a ticket at the train station
in Naples (make sure that it is validated by stamping it in
the yellow boxes on the tack) and board the train to
Sorrento (if you are in Naples) or Naples (if you are in
Sorrento).
Get Off the Train When You
See This Sign
As you disembark the train you
will see the entrance to Pompeii about 100 yards to your
right. As you enter Pompeii you will be approached by "tour
guides" that are trying to assemble groups to take through
the ruins. Be aware that there is no requirement to go with
a group and that you might regret it if you do simply
because Pompeii is huge and it takes a good amount of time
to cover the things that you may want to see. Being stuck in
a group may become quite frustrating. Also ibe aware that
the group leader may resort to scare tactics to get you to
join the group. They may tell you that pick pockets are
everywhere, or that if you get lost you might fall prey to
people with bad intentions....nothing could be further from
the truth. If you do want a formal tour, try renting the
self guided tour with prerecorded explanations that you can
carry with you as you explore.
Pompeii Ruins
As you enter Pompeii's ruins,
it is almost unbelievable that the structures date back to
the time right after the death of Jesus.
Old Pillars
It is also evident that the
people who lived in Pompeii were quite advanced.
Pillars Reaching into the
Sky
The detail in which the city
was constructed is overwhelming. One just doesn't think that
a civilization that existed so long ago could have all of
the things that they did.
The Interior of a House
The extent of the frescos that
were used in the houses is stunning.
A Well Preserved Pompeii
Resident
Buried alive in volcanic ash
has preserved many of the residents that perished in the
eruption. Here is one such gentleman on display.
The Inside of a Brothel
Pompeii is littered with
brothels that were apparently a part of every day life. The
rooms on the right were the "working" rooms for the women
that worked there.
One of the Streets in
Pompeii
Pompeii is laid out in a grid
of many streets and avenues. They are all paved with rock
and are symetrical, as i there was a master plan when the
city was planned.
The Center of Town
In the very center of Pompeii
is a huge square with what used to be large public
buildings. Again, hard to believe that a civilization was so
advanced so many centuries ago.
More Ruins
Some of the houses were set up
as bakeries and had street front displays and baking ovens.
These would still be useable even today.
A Large Home With a Pool
Some of the homes were quite
large and elaborate, even by today's standards. Large yards,
pools, fountains and patios were all a part of life then.
More Wall Paintings in a
House
Some of the interiors of the
houses were simply beautiful.
Still Standing After Almost
2,000 Years
It is amazing that these
structures are still standing after so many years. Pompeii
will captivate you and visiting Pompeii will be a day you
will remember for the rest of your life.
When it comes time to return
to either Naples or Sorrento, simply head on back to the
train station and grab the next train back to your
destination. Remember though, there are two separate
entrances to Pompeii. Be sure to exit the entrance that you
came into to get back to your train station. If you exit the
wrong entrance, you will be a long way from where you want
to be. Enjoy your day in Pompeii! |
