(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Our fun-loving tour leader, Francesco, normally a joking around kind of guy, was very serious about getting to Pompeii before it opened.  He said even if you have pre-purchased tickets like he had for our group, the lines to get in get very long.  Francesco was not wrong.  We arrived before opening, and it was already very crowded outside the gate.  See those cases in the picture below?  Each one was full of a busload of headsets that the local guides would use with their groups to speak to them while walking through the site.  The empty cases are held there until the group is ready to depart.  Those cases were just the beginning of a collection that would grow throughout the day!

It wasn’t as crowded after we got through the gate, because Pompeii is quite large at about 170 acres, and the tour guides lead their groups to different areas.  But still, there were so many people everywhere, because it is among the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, with approximately 2.5 million visitors annually.

Having said all that, when you visit Italy, Pompeii is a must-see destination.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city was buried in six meters of volcanic ash by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.  Toxic gas and ash penetrated the entire town, killing what was estimated to be about 11,000 residents.   

It wasn’t until the 17^th century that Pompeii was re-discovered.  And what a discovery it must have been!  The city and its treasures were well preserved, offering a unique snapshot of what Roman life was at the time.  It is the only archaeological site in the world that provides a complete picture of an ancient Roman City.

Pompeii was a wealthy town of beautiful public buildings and luxurious private houses decorated with fine artwork and furnishings.  Can you imagine what it must have been like to discover these treasures during excavation?

During our tour of the museum, we got to see some of these beautiful treasures:

What we found interesting, however, were the remains of the shops and workshops we saw where pottery and glass serving pieces were made.  There were also bakeries, wool processing workshops, snack bars, an amphitheater, and more.

We were fortunate to be there on a gorgeous spring day when the red poppies were in bloom.

Following our tour of Pompeii, we had a much-needed relaxing (and quiet!) outdoor lunch at a local winery where we enjoyed views of Mt. Vesuvius.

Our final destination was Naples, our base for the final three nights of the tour.  More on Naples in post #26!

Next up:  SICILY & AMALFI COAST #25: CRUISING TO CAPRI