Pompeii, Italy: Essential Information, Highlights, and Admission Fee

If you are heading to Naples or the Amalfi Coast, you definitely shouldn’t miss the famous Pompeii, which, as you surely know, was struck by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Approximately 10,000 local inhabitants died in this tragedy, and the volcanic ash perfectly preserved the city’s appearance.

And now you can explore it and soak in all its history and mystery. In this guide, Pompeii, Italy: Essential Information, Highlights, and Admission Fee, you will learn all the interesting facts about Pompeii, as well as about admission.

Pompeii: History, Volcano, and Admission

Pompeii is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world and is one of the most significant archaeological sites and tourist attractions.

They are located in southern Italy near Naples and are primarily known for the aforementioned tragic event when, in 79 AD, they were buried by volcanic ash and stones after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The eruption lasted three days, and the layer of debris and ash reached a height of up to 6 meters.

The most interesting thing about it all is that this natural disaster paradoxically preserved the city in an almost original state. 🤯

Pompeii was founded approximately in the 7th century BC. by settlers from Etruria and Greece. Initially, it was a small agricultural town, but it gradually gained importance due to its strategic coastal location and successful trade.

After the volcanic eruption, Pompeii was forgotten for many centuries until it was accidentally rediscovered in the 16th century. Systematic archaeological excavations then began in the 18th century and continue to this day (so there might always be something newly excavated to see). During your visit, you will be able to see the ongoing work of archaeologists (these are the only things that cannot be photographed).

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How to get to Pompeii

If you travel from Naples, as I did, you can get to Pompeii by train (EAV suburban railway) from the main train station. A ticket costs 2.80 euros and the journey takes about 40 minutes. Tickets can be bought at the EAV counter at the station (you’ll find it by going down the stairs to the ground floor at the train station).

You can also easily get there by car, if you have one available.

Pompeii: where to Buy Tickets

You can buy tickets to Pompeii either on the official website online or on site. We prefer to use the GetYourGuide portal in Italy, because tickets can be returned through it at any time, and we often have trouble buying tickets through official websites, plus there’s usually a queue on site.

You can visit Pompeii every day from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM. The basic adult ticket costs 18 euros, for young people (aged 18-24) it’s 2 euros, and children under 18 have free entry (however, reduced-price tickets cannot be bought online; you must purchase them on site and prove your age with a document).

If you want to see Pompeii including the suburban villas (Villa of the Mysteries, Villa Regina, and Villa of Diomedes), then the adult admission costs 22 euros.

The ticket is not time-limited; you can arrive anytime during opening hours (however, the last entry is at 5:30 PM) and spend as much time as you wish in the city.

How Long Does a Tour of Pompeii Take?

I would recommend dedicating a whole day to visiting Pompeii so you don’t have to rush. The tour of Pompeii itself usually takes between 3 to 5 hours, depending on how thoroughly you want to explore individual parts of the city and what all you want to see.

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Main Attractions of Pompeii

Today, Pompeii is one of the most visited tourist sites in Italy, and since 1997, the ruins of the ancient city have been on the UNESCO list. In Pompeii, the following sights are worth seeing:

Porta Marina

Porta Marina (Sea Gate) is the best-preserved gate of all the original city gates in all of Pompeii.

After the earthquake in 62 AD (yes, there was an earthquake in Pompeii too, as if the volcanic eruption wasn’t enough.🤭), most of the city gates were not repaired, because due to the political situation at the time and the crumbling borders of the Roman Empire, there was no longer a need to maintain strong city walls.

Forum

The Forum is the main square and the heart of Pompeii’s former commercial, social, and religious life. At its northern end stands the Temple of Jupiter, which was originally built in the 2nd century BC during the Samnite era.

Here you can see the Temple of Jupiter, two monumental arches, and the remains of important public buildings such as treasuries, granaries, and the Temple of Apollo.

Basilica

The Basilica, located on the southwestern edge of the forum, was the center of commercial activities and a place for legal proceedings. However, after the earthquake in 62, the building was abandoned and never fully restored.

Pompeian Bodies

Perhaps the most interesting and at the same time most eerie thing to see in Pompeii are the preserved remains of the original inhabitants’ bodies. But don’t think that from these remains you won’t be able to tell what’s a leg and what’s an arm.

The death of fleeing people under the volcanic ash ensured that the victims of Mount Vesuvius remained essentially statues captured in their final and painful moments of life.

Pompeian Graffiti

If you pay close attention during your tour of the city, you will certainly notice all sorts of inscriptions, drawings, and declarations all over the walls. Today, we would probably call it graffiti.

According to historians, some of these inscriptions are political slogans, advertisements, menus, loving messages, rules of conduct in taverns, or even vulgar remarks and drawings.

An interesting, albeit vulgar, fact is that countless paintings, statues, or shapes of penises can be found in the streets of Pompeii. It is believed that these symbols on the streets always pointed towards the nearest brothel, to guide sailors who might have been drunk and didn’t speak the local language. Now that’s what I call marketing.😄

Triangular Forum

Significant structures are located in the Triangular Forum, such as two theaters and a gymnasium. In the center of the square, the remains of a Doric temple from the 6th century BC can be seen. The temple was restored in the 4th–3rd centuries BC, but during the Roman period, it ceased to be used and was converted into a chapel.

Large and Small Theater

The Large Theater, which could accommodate up to 5,000 spectators, had a special tribune for important visitors. The Small Theater, with a smaller capacity, was used for minor performances and could offer seats to approximately a thousand spectators.

Amphitheater

Gladiator fights are an inseparable part of Roman history, and the amphitheater served precisely this purpose. The Pompeian amphitheater, which could accommodate up to 20,000 spectators, is the oldest known Roman amphitheater.

It was built thanks to the generosity of C. Q. Valgus and M. Porcius. Next to it was a large training ground (palaestra) where gladiators trained.

House of the Vettii

The House of the Vettii was owned by the Vettii brothers, two former slaves who became free and very wealthy. The house is truly massive and is particularly famous for its magnificent wall frescoes and decorations, including some erotic motifs.

House of the Faun

The House of the Faun, named after a statue of a Faun, dates back to the Samnite period (2nd century BC) and its layout resembles Greek architectural style. The most famous part of the house is the renowned mosaic of the Battle of Alexander the Great with the Persian King Darius, which can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Lupanar

The Lupanar, or Pompeian brothel, is a small house that probably attracts the most visitors. And why do you think that is?🤭

It has 10 windowless rooms with stone beds (which looked quite uncomfortable, but apparently, it was intentional so that men wouldn’t fall asleep and delay the prostitutes from their next work) and on the walls in the so-called “waiting room,” frescoes with erotic scenes can be seen, which allegedly served as a service menu or even instructions on what to do in such a brothel.

House of the Tragic Poet

The House of the Tragic Poet apparently belonged to a wealthy merchant and is known for the dog mosaic located in the vestibule with the inscription “Cave Canem” (Beware of the dog).

House of Venus in the Shell

The House of Venus in the Shell has a beautiful garden, where a painting of the goddess Venus bathing on a seashell is located in the courtyard. This house is among the most recent excavations, having been discovered only between 1930 and 1950, and it will probably be the most beautiful house you see in Pompeii.

Thermal Baths

Romans apparently loved three things: gladiatorial fights, brothels, and especially relaxing in baths.

Several of them are located in Pompeii. The baths in the city were divided into male and female sections. Each of them contained changing rooms, cold baths, and a warm pool. A caldarium, a room with circulating warm air, has also been preserved.

Villa of the Mysteries

The Villa of the Mysteries is probably the most famous villa in all of Pompeii and is located just outside the city. You will find magnificent paintings and frescoes depicting religious scenes, including figures of Dionysus, Ariadne, and Satyr.

House of the Surgeon

The House of the Surgeon is one of the most significant and oldest houses in Pompeii. It is located near the northern city gate and got its name from the discovery of surgical instruments found here during excavations.

These instruments indicate that the house belonged to a physician, probably a surgeon, who practiced here. Instruments such as scalpels, forceps, probes, and other medical tools were found there.

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Pompeii: Top Highlights

Pompeii is an absolutely fascinating place for me, and surely for many of you too. I have compiled some interesting facts for you:

• Body Casts – During the excavations of Pompeii, Italian architect Giuseppe Fiorelli discovered voids in the ash layer, which, upon careful examination, revealed to be the remains of the inhabitants’ bodies. Fiorelli then filled these voids with plaster, thus creating casts of the Pompeians’ bodies at the moment of their death. These casts can still be seen in Pompeii today.
• Houses in Pompeii – Most houses in Pompeii were surprisingly spacious and well-equipped. Many of them had, for example, baths, running water, and beautifully decorated stairs made of quality stone. The city prospered, and many families could afford luxurious furnishings and decorations.
• Vesuvius Today – Mount Vesuvius is still an active volcano. The last eruption occurred in 1944, killing 26 people. Today, however, Vesuvius is carefully monitored to prevent further disasters.
• Ignorance of Inhabitants – Interestingly, according to some historians, the inhabitants of Pompeii probably did not know that Vesuvius was an active volcano. At that time, they lacked the necessary knowledge about volcanic activity and might have considered Vesuvius just another mountain in the landscape.
• Pompeii as a Holiday Destination – At certain periods, Pompeii became a popular spot for the Roman elite, who spent their holidays there. The city had beautiful gardens, public baths, and amphitheaters, making it an attractive destination. It is even speculated that Emperor Nero had his house here, where he spent time relaxing.
• Discovery of Treasure – During excavations, a treasure containing 298 silver and several gold coins was discovered in one of the houses. This discovery is proof of how prosperous households in Pompeii were and how well many inhabitants fared.
• Streets and Sidewalks – The streets in Pompeii were designed very practically. They were covered with large stones, and grooves for chariot wheels ran between them. Sidewalks for pedestrians were raised to help people avoid dirt and rainwater flowing down the streets. In several places in the city, there were also “pedestrian crossings” in the form of large stones, between which chariot wheels could pass.
• Water Supply System – The city had a well-developed water supply system that delivered fresh water to homes, baths, and fountains. Many public fountains could be found in the streets of Pompeii, where inhabitants could fill their containers with drinking water.
• Fast Food – Pompeii had its own version of today’s fast food restaurants, called thermopolia. These were small stalls where passersby could buy hot food and drinks. These stalls were usually equipped with large food containers embedded in stone counters.
• Herculaneum – If you don’t like crowds, then about 12 km from Pompeii lies the city of Herculaneum, which suffered a similar fate to Pompeii, but unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried by volcanic debris and lava, leading to a different preservation of the city. The city is also accessible for tourists to visit.

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