As we continue our exploration of the ancient sites of Europe we will take a trip to the city of Pompeii at the base of
Mount Vesuvius in the southern part of Italy. Afterwards travel to nearby Naples to explore the Archeological Museum that displays the artifacts from this doomed ancient city.
Mount Vesuvius has erupted numerous times however it was its eruption in 79 AD that concealed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Buried in a thick layer of volcanic ash the city remained hidden for over two thousand years until a group of explorers discovered it in 1748. Underneath all the dust and ash the city remained essentially intact and frozen in time. Skeletons were found right were the residents had fallen and every day objects and household goods were scattered in the streets. The past three centuries have been spend unearthing the remains of this city.
What makes a visit to Pompeii after the pandemic even more exciting is that there have been new discoveries in recent
months. Even though the point of this series of articles has been that the ancient sites never change, Pompeii must be singled out as the exception. Back in November of 2020 the remains of two men were uncovered nearby, believed to be a wealthy landowner and his younger slave. Then in December they uncovered a street food shop from which they were able to extract remnants of food from that era, an important discovery in understanding how people lived at the time. Most recently the remnants of a nearly intact Roman chariot was unearthed.
If you are touring Italy this is a must see site and easily visited by bus or other tour options from many of the nearby cities, even Rome. If your cruise stops in the port of Naples this should be one of the sites on your bucket list. A tour guide is an important addition to any visit as they will help you navigate the city, which is much bigger than I anticipated even though it is not yet fully excavated. They will also bring to life the heart wrenching stories of the people who live and died there that fateful day.
Following your time at the excavation site of Pompeii, which can be well explored in half a day, it is worthwhile to travel
back into the city of Naples to visit the Archeological Museum to see more of the artifacts and art from this era. All of the wonderful sculptures, mosaics and frescoes that could be removed are on display here. The museum is easily accessed on a subway line, or grab a taxi for a wild ride through this gritty city. For more information on times and cost please visit http://www.museoarcheologiconapoli.it/en/.
For more detail on Pompeii and other ancient sites of Europe check out the History Channel Online at www.history.com.