be amazed by this two spectacular archaeological sites

The two best known archaeological sites in the Naples area, both of which are well worth visiting and very different one from the other. Pompei is far larger than Herculaneum but they were both destroyed at the same time by the first recorded eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Pompei never fails to amaze both from the point of view of its size as well as for the engineering ability of the ancient Romans.

To go round this wonderful old city, preferably with an authorized guide, you will get to see the forum area, the bath houses, old temples, houses with frescoes still on the walls, mosaic flooring and much more.  You will come to realize that there is not much that we can do today that the Romans couldn’t do all those centuries ago.

Herculaneum was not a busy and influential port such as Pompei but more a residential area and home of  wealthy patricians. Like Pompei, it has not been completely uncovered and never will be since the present day Herculaneum is above the ancient town. However, the excavations are absolutely amazing.

Going round this old place you can almost imagine meeting one of the original residents coming out of his home or maybe a bath-house. Here you find a lot of buildings almost intact with the lovely, mosaic household altars, frescoed walls, mosaic flooring where you can actually see the ‘wave’ effect of the earthquakes which took place during the eruption of the volcano, carbonized furniture such as beds and wardrobes, sliding doors, trellises…. It is just such a fascinating place that one hardly wants to leave it once inside.
Both of these two sites can be done on the same day but, very often, people prefer to do one of them for half a day and then do either Vesuvius or maybe the Royal Palace of Caserta.

Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed and you will return home with wonderful memories and plenty to think about.