POMPEI – ERCOLANO

The excavations of Pompei bear witness to an extraordinary ancient world due to the standard of preservation of the city. The city is virtually intact after being buried by  a volcanic eruption in 79 A.D.. The city lay hidden from view and forgotten for many centuries. The geographic position of the city resulted in the development of a flourishing center dating to the 7th and 6th centuries B.C. The settlement exploited it position between two major arteries of communication: the river Sarno and the sea. This led to important trade activities. In the 5th century  the city came under control of the Sannites and had contact with Greek and Etruscan influences. In the 3rd century B.C. after the Punic Wars, Pompei came within the orbit of Rome and became a colony of Rome in 80 B.C. . In the second half of the 1700s, excavations, ordered by the Bourbons, began and continued for over a hundred years. This work brought the city to light giving us a picture of daily life in Roman times. After a detailed visit of the excavations, you can then experience the tastes and flavors of Pompei, a pizza or buffalo mozzarella right on the door step of the ruins of Pompei.

A fascinating visit rich in history to Herculaeum. In 79 A.D. a sudden blast interrupted the daily routine of people living on the slopes of Vesuvius. A column of volcanic material came rising up out of the volcano reaching a height of 14 km before releasing a rain of pumice and lapilli. This was blown by the wind towards Pompei. This marked the beginning of the catastrophe. In just a few hours, the volcano released enormous quantities of pyroclastic material that would transform the landscape forever. Herculaneum was first hit with a gas cloud with a temperature of over 400 degrees centigrade that travelled at a speed of 80 km per hour. Then a flow of volcanic mud covered  the city with over 20 meters of volcanic material. In the 1980s, on what was the seafront during Roman times, the bodies of over 300 people, who were trying in vain to escape the mud flow, were uncovered. Their attempts were in vain as their hopes and dreams were burnt to ashes by the hot gassy cloud.