Naples, Italy

Today we will explore Pompeii and Herculaneum.

We have all heard about Pompeii and the effects of the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city was buried in 30 feet of pumice and ash. Excavation of the site began in the mid 1700s. We were not prepared for the vastness of this site. Houses, gardens and shops spread over an area of 160 to 170 acres.

Our first stop was the amphitheater. It is one of the oldest surviving amphitheaters in Italy. It was used for gladiator battles and circuses.

Walking through the city we passed by well preserved frescos. Every building had frescos, mosaic floors and large gardens.

Herculaneum is a smaller site and was destroyed by a different kind flow from the volcano. The city was buried under a pyroclastic flow that solidified and protected it against looting and the ravages of time. The pyroclastic flow carbonized the wood so more of the furnishings were preserved in this city. We saw a bed and a table that had been perfectly preserved.

In the area of the harbor there are storage areas where more than 300 skeletons have been discovered. It is felt that the people were waiting for a boat to escape on and the boat never arrived.

Herculaneum is more preserved than Pompeii and provided a detailed look at Roman life in 79 AD.

We were so glad to be able to see these two well preserved cities. It gave us a great look at how the Romans built and ornamented their cities and a great feeling for everyday life.

Next - off the ship and on to Rome.Read more