Pompeii

Pompeii, like many attractions in Italy, is a place which hardly needs an introduction. It has captivated the world’s imagination since its discovery in 1592 and is one of the most famous archaeological sites in history. It’s an enduring muse for novelists and directors, and, as you traverse its streets, you’re bound to see why.

Pompeii is an ordinary Roman town that was destroyed in 79 CE when the nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed it, burying it in ash. That very ash led to the remarkable preservation of the town itself, including many bodies of the volcano’s victims.

Today, you can amble its streets, and, like few other places on the face of the earth, actually step back in time and feel the quiver of history. Bakers’ ovens, public toilets and water fountains resurrect the everyday. You’ll be able to follow along the real track-marks from carriage wheels engraved in the stone of the road.

The town has an array of highlights to admire, including a gladiatorial arena, a theatre, the mansions of the wealthy (including the famous “Villa of Mysteries” and “House of the Tragic Poet”). Wander the old forum, a bathhouse and even a brothel complete with stone beds, frescoes and graffiti.

A visit to Pompeii pairs fantastically with a visit (on another day) to the Archaeological Museum of Naples, where much of the jewellery, mosaics and art from the site are displayed. With that said, artefacts like little wooden wheelbarrows, a baby’s crib, amphorae (wine jugs), and the plaster casts of the Pompeiian people themselves can be seen on-site.