Pompeii Archaeological Site

Address: Parco Archeologico di Pompei, Via Villa dei Misteri, 2, 80045 Pompei (NA), Italy

Website: https://www.parcopaompei.it

Hours: Daily (hours vary seasonally; site typically opens ~9:00 and closes late afternoon/evening)

Admission: €18 (standard adult ticket) - reduced/free rates available

Pompeii is an ancient Roman town near modern Naples in Italy that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The city’s rapid burial preserved buildings, street layouts and artifacts, making it a key archaeological site for Roman urban life.

Excavations reveal city features including the Forum, temples, bakeries, shops, private houses with frescoes and mosaics, public baths and a well-preserved amphitheatre. Streets and building interiors are accessible along marked routes, allowing visitors to walk through domestic and civic spaces and view plaster casts of victims preserved in ash. Guided tours and onsite signage explain the function of major structures and the daily life of the town’s inhabitants.

Pompeii was a thriving Roman town before being overwhelmed by the eruption of Vesuvius on 24 August AD 79, which buried the city under metres of ash and pumice. Systematic excavations began in the 18th century and have continued in phases since, producing one of the most complete records of Roman urban architecture and art.

The ruins lie near the modern town of Pompeii in the Campania region of southern Italy, on the northwestern slopes of Mount Vesuvius and roughly 23 kilometres southeast of Naples.

• Preservation and rediscovery: Buried by the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius and rediscovered in the 18th century, the site offers extensive excavated streets and buildings preserved under volcanic ash.
• Visiting advice: Early morning visits are recommended to avoid crowds and heat; much of the site is exposed to the elements so wear comfortable shoes and sun protection.

What to See#

• Forum: The central civic area of the Roman town containing administrative buildings, temples and marketplaces and serving as the archaeological and social core.
• Amphitheatre: A well-preserved Roman amphitheatre dating to the 1st century BCE, used historically for public spectacles and one of the oldest intact stone amphitheatres.
• House of the Faun: One of the largest private residences uncovered at the site, famous for its mosaics and frescoes including a well-known depiction of a dancing faun.

From Naples, take the Circumvesuviana commuter train from Napoli Garibaldi (at Napoli Centrale) toward Sorrento and get off at Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri; that station is about a 5-10 minute walk to the main archaeological entrance. Regional Trenitalia services also stop at Pompei (Pompei-Villa dei Misteri/Pompei Scavi) from the Naples-Salerno line.

By car drive southeast from Naples on the A3/autostrada toward Pompeii (the town is roughly a 25-30 km drive from central Naples depending on route); follow local signs to the archaeological site where visitor parking is available.

• Use the Circumvesuviana train to the Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri stop for the most direct access and to avoid the large bus-tour crowds that arrive at the main coach parking.
• Start with the Forum and the Villa of the Mysteries early on, then work toward the outer streets and lesser-visited houses in the afternoon when many groups have left.
• If you want better-preserved Roman interiors, combine Pompeii with a visit to Herculaneum (Ercolano), which is smaller and less crowded.