You can visit ancient Rome best by taking a day trip to Pompeii from Naples or Sorrento. A visit to Pompeii will transport you back in time for 2000 years to a Roman city. All the volcanic material Mount Vesuvius threw in its’ most famous eruption in August 79 AD preserved the city of Pompeii.
Pompeii – The City Frozen in Time
Pompeii used to be a popular Roman resort where the wealthy families came to enjoy the mild climate, the sea, and the richness of the land. Volcanic soil was great for lots of fruit, good olive oil, and wine. The port insured the flow of commerce, and the city expanded and flourished until the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in August 79 AD.
How to get to Pompeii
From Naples
Take the Circumvesuviana train directed to Sorrento. You can take it from Porta Nolana Station because it’s not as crowded as Naples Central. Buy your tickets from the window inside the station. A ticket costs 3.20€, and it takes about 35 minutes to get to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station.
From Sorrento
Similarly, from Sorrento, take the Circumvesuviana train towards Naples and get off at Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri. It takes about half an hour, and a ticket will cost 3€.
An entrance to the archaeological park will be right in front of the train station.
A visit to Pompeii – What to expect
As opposed to Ercolano, a visit to Pompeii can easily be a day trip without seeing everything or even close. Also, there will probably be queues at the entrance, so try to get there early in the morning or prebook a skip-the-line ticket. Take a map from the entrance to identify the places you are most interested in. The map also has proposed itineraries for 2 to 7 hours that might be helpful.
The site is huge, an entire Roman city excavated. Archaeologists believe Pompeii had a population of about 12000 people at the time of the eruption. It had anything and everything: fancy villas, a large theatre and also a smaller one, an amphitheater for gladiator games, a large palestra for the training, fast food restaurants called thermopilia, public baths, brothels, shops, temples.
The Forum – A visit to Pompeii
Start with the Forum – the center of all roman life. A Roman Forum was more than a marketplace – it was a meeting place where gatherings and political events took place, the true heart of any Roman city. At one end of the Forum, the Temple of Jupiter stood between Mt. Vesuvius and the public square.
Teatro Grande and the Odeon
Walk towards the theater’s area, you will find a performance theatre, very well preserved – Teatro Grande. Also, there is an Odeon right next to it. The Odeon is a smaller amphitheater used for poetry and musical recitals, with great acoustics.
The Amphitheater of Pompeii
Walk under the umbrella pines towards the Amphitheater, on the edge of the city. It could host 20000 people, enjoying sports events and gladiator fights.
The Garden of the Fugitives
This is an ancient vineyard where 13 fugitives trying to flee the city died. They used plaster poured into the void spaces around the remains and obtained detailed poses of the people caught in the ashes. In the Garden of the Fugitives, you will find the 13 casts of the people trying to escape through Porta Nocera. There are also a few others casts exhibited around Pompeii.
A few years ago, there was an exhibition called ‘Stolen from death’ in the Amphitheater’s Arena in Pompeii. I’m not sure where the casts ended up now, probably at the Archaeology Museum in Naples. It was a really vivid image of those people’s last moments.
Il Lupanare (the brothel) of Pompeii
In Roman culture, sex was not taboo. They were certainly more liberal than the more ‘civilized’ societies that came with Christianity. Prostitution was legal therefore the prostitutes were registered and paid taxes. They were usually slaves, freedwomen, or freedmen. Il Lupanare in Pompeii is an example of a large 10 rooms typical brothel. It had narrow rooms, fitting just a stone bed with a mattress and probably a curtain at the entrance. Above each door, there are very explicit erotic frescoes for the guests to choose to their taste.
Useful tips for a visit to Pompeii
Pompeii is a large site with little or no shadow. Though there is almost no level difference in the area, you will be walking on somewhat slippery irregular stones. So, wear comfortable walking shoes and don’t forget a cap.
You will not be allowed inside the park with any large bags. To make Pompeii a good day trip from either Naples or Sorrento, you can still pack lunch and have a picnic in one of the designated areas. There are a few snack bars inside the park, but the offer is limited, and the prices are a bit high.
These are the highlights of my day trip to Pompeii from Naples. There are many other things to see in Pompeii and in the surrounding area. Check out my post for Mount Vesuvius and a Day trip to Ercolano as well.
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It has always been high on my bucket list to visit Pompeii. Thank you for sharing your great photos and information!
Thank you for reading, Sarah. A visit to Pompeii is really worth it. Also, there are many other great places to explore in the Campania region.