For the weekend, we headed toward the Gulf of Naples. Along the way, we stopped for lunch (some quite good calzone) in modern Pompei, which sits adjacent to (and at places on top of) the archaeological site of ancient Pompeii (note different spelling).
Pompeii, along with other towns and villas in the surrounding area, was destroyed and buried under 10 to 20 feet of ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the year 79 AD. At the time of its destruction, it had a population of approximately 11,000 people, with a complex water system, amphitheater and an important sea port. The eruption killed most the city's inhabitants and buried it under tons of ash. The town laid buried and lost until 1599 AD. Excavations began in 1748 when a Spanish engineer--employed to dig a sewer for a nearby munitions factory--unearthed the impressively preserved Roman town. It has been a tourist destination ever since.
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| Colosseum of Pompeii |
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| Remains of interior of Roman residence |
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| Detail of Mosaic in Pompeii residence |
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| Serving vessels (for wine) in Roman bar |
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| Interior of Roman bar |
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| Street in Pompeii in residential quarter |
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| Detail of mosaic floor |
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| View down street in Pompeii |
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| Courtyard in Pompeii |
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| Courtyard in Pompeii |
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| Detail of Mosaic |
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| Amphitheater |
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| Statute in Amphitheater |
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