Pompeii

I have wanted to visit Pompeii, for so long. There was an exhibition on Pompeii, at the British Museum last year, but I missed it. So that meant only one thing, I would have travel to Italy and see it for myself.  The Roman town was buried by an erupting Vesuvius in AD 79. The remians were discovered by accident in the 1590s but it was 1750 before it was seen as an archaeological treasure. Many of the works of art and everyday objects are now in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples. I will show you a few of the treasures in another post.




To wander around this site and walk on the same cart tracks and look in the houses as they  were on that day in AD79 is hard to take in but we also have to remember that this was a place of tragedy. Overcome by the fumes there was no time to escape and the population died where they were and left us with an unparalleled view of their daily life.

The Forum was the centre of the town and was surrounded by the important government and religious buildings. (The statues are modern additions in the public area.)

Next to the Forum was the Basilica. This is where justice was administered.

Some areas were fenced off as archaeologists are still excavating. This road went right through from one side of the town to the other. You can see from these photos that there were sidewalks or pavements which were quite high for you to walk on. This was because water and waste would flow down the streets. There were also blocks in the middle of the streets to slow down the carriages to prevent the splashing of pedestrians.

This is the Lupanar. A brothel with frescoes above the doorway indicating what was on offer.There were at least three brothels in the town. The stone beds looked very small.

Close to the brothel are the Stabian Baths.  They have some interesting decorations and give a good idea how baths used to function in Roman times.

Frescoes can still be seen on the walls and ceilings.

The amphitheatre is on the edge of the excavated area. Completed in 80 BC it could hold 20,000 people. It is the earliest surviving amphitheatre in Italy and one of the best preserved. It would have been used for gladiator fighting and other sports usually involving wild animals.

Opposite the amphitheatre is the Great Palaestra or Gymnasium. It is a huge enclosed area which would have held sporting activities.

On three sides of the Gymnasium there are colonnades with these bright frescoes. They are protected by glass hence all the reflections.

So much of interest as you wander along.

This is the Theatre which was built in the hollow of a hill so the acoustics are very good. It seats 5000 and is used today for concerts etc.

Known as the House of the Faun as a statue of a dancing faun was found on the site. It is a very large villa taking up an entire block. Many magnificent mosaics were found here which are now in the Archaeological Museum including the statue of the Faun.

A replica of the statue has been placed in the middle of the pool where it was found.

Many other buildings had the remains of statues, frescoes and mosaics decorating them. I can't recall the names of the buildings. here are a few of those I saw.

I walked along the Via del Vesuvio to the end of the excavations and continued up to a meadow area.

I assume this may contain other parts of the town not yet excavated

It gave me a slight overview of the ruins looking towards modern Pompeii. It was the ideal spot to reflect on wh\t I had seen this day and to remember all those men. women and children who lost their lives on that fateful day in AD 79

First impressions of Naples, Itay

 Travelling with my city break friend, Joan, we left London  early morning and were at our hotel in Naples by mid morning. As this was quite a cheap city break I thought we were staying in a small back street hotel but it turned out to be a rather plush converted palace called Palazzo  Caracciolo on Via Carbonara.

This was part of the dining area.

Lounge area

We then went off to explore our surroundings. Off the main roads the streets and lanes were very narrow. It didn't stop the numerous scooters riding at great speed and seemingly coming from all directions. So glad I wasn't  driving around this city!

Everywhere you looked there were lines of washing drying between the buildings.

Not far from the hotel was the Duomo. The Cathedral was built in the late 1200s, although there was a Christian building on the site from around 450AD.

Saint Januarius or San Gennaro the patron saint of Naples. This magnificent mural is the work of an Italian-Dutch street artist,  Jorit. It is on a wall close to the church of San Giorgio Maggiore.

We then walked the short distance to Garibaldi square. There was a lot of work going on in the square so not possible to get a photo but this is looking down to one of the exits/entrances to the Metro which is also a shopping and exhibition area.

Today there was dancing there. It looked as though anyone could take part. And before you ask, no I didn't!

This elegant iron and glass roof covers the Galleria Umberto.

It was built as part of an urban renewal plan after the cholera epidemic of 1885. It is a very impressive light, open space with shops and cafes but without the hustle and bustle of the streets outside.

After leaving the Galleria it was time for a sit down and where better than the Cafe Gambrinus. Once the haunt of politicians, writers and artists it is still a popular meeting place. Known for its cakes and ice cream. I couldn't resist the Gambrinus special.

Probably the most expensive ice cream I have ever had but I am in Italy, home to the best ice cream.

Due to the large port area along the sea front in Naples, we had to walk some distance before we found the view we wanted of the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius in the background. A little hazy but a view to admire nonetheless. The next day's visit  was the reason for coming to Naples - Pompeii.

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