Travel Highlights - Naples(Pompeii)

Pompeii is a must-see for many visitors to Naples. This city, destroyed overnight by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, nearly two thousand years ago, has been rediscovered by archaeologists over hundreds of years, offering a glimpse into the prosperity and bohemian lifestyle of the Pompeii civilization.

Pompeii was enormous. At the time of its destruction by Vesuvius, it housed over 20,000 people, making it the second-largest city during the Roman Republic. Its main street alone stretched for several kilometers.

Founded around 600 BC, Pompeii was a major Roman city built near Mount Vesuvius. In 79 AD, Vesuvius erupted violently, submerging the entire city in volcanic ash up to six meters deep. Pompeii vanished, and over time, the flourishing Pompeii civilization gradually faded into legend. It wasn't until the 18th century that Herculaneum and Pompeii were excavated by archaeologists. Currently, about 60% of the area has been unearthed. The entire ancient city seems to be wrapped in a time capsule. The street outlines, residents' clothing, lifestyles, tools and utensils have been preserved. Even the signs and inscriptions on the shopping streets are clearly visible. For this reason, the Pompeii archaeological area was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1997.

The cruise's first day docked in Naples, near the city of Pompeii, a famous attraction. A quick map study revealed another famous destination, Amalfi, not far away. Since the cruise only lasted seven hours, and I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to visit Amalfi, I contacted a private driver online. Eduardo, who would take us directly from the port to Pompeii, where we'd stay for about an hour and a half, then head straight to the Amalfi coast, returning us to the port by 8:00 PM. This trip cost a pretty penny; he charged a hefty €500.

Pompeii Forum

The Foro di Pompei was a prominent square in Pompeii at the time. It houses the remains of the Temple of Jupiter and the Council Chamber, along with other important structures. The sculptures near the square were later created by Polish artist Igor Mitoraj. The entire square is a popular tourist destination. Besides the numerous ancient ruins to explore, you can also take photos of the Temple of Jupiter and Mount Vesuvius. I remember the tour guide telling me a lot of stories, but I've forgotten most of them since returning. All I can say is that human life is truly insignificant compared to the power of nature.

Pompeii's Main Street: This street, running through the city, was Pompeii's main shopping street. It was lined with bakeries, restaurants, taverns, and mills (Pistrinum). The thriving service industries, and the fact that wealthy merchants carved "Salve, lucru" (Money, Welcome) into their shop floors, suggest that Pompeii was already quite prosperous thousands of years ago.

This is a well-preserved mansion of a wealthy businessman. The decorations on the floors and walls look quite impressive. There is even a private bathhouse at the innermost part. Life there is really quite enjoyable.

Because of that disaster, Pompeii is the only ancient Roman city in the world whose structure has been completely preserved. The chessboard-like crisscrossing streets are the traditional layout of the ancient Roman period. Many houses and villas have also been preserved, and archaeologists have even discovered a hotel.

Great Theatre

About halfway through, you'll see the amphitheater (the Great Theatre). Back then, it could accommodate 5,000 people, allowing residents to enjoy various performances. It's hard to imagine how comfortable life must have been thousands of years ago! Even today, some events are still held here.

You can find a 3D simulation of the Great Theatre in Pompeii on Youtube, where you can see that the architectural capabilities of ancient Greece and Rome were already quite mature.

Lupanare Prostitution

Another popular attraction within the ruins of Pompeii is the Lupanare Prostitution! Yes, Pompeii itself was a red-light district, and the small rooms used for business, along with the blushing frescoes on the walls, have been preserved.

The boys' GG was used as an indicator and sign without any hesitation. The Pompeii people at that time worshipped the male genitals and believed that GG could bring people good luck. Therefore, it was not only an indicator of brothels, but decorations related to male genitals could also be seen in many places in the city.

There are several preserved brothels of various sizes, the main one open to the public is Lupanare Prostitution. When you come in, remember to look at the upper wall. There are several murals like this, which can be regarded as a complete list of sexual positions. The tour guide also said that sex transactions were provided by slaves at the time, and the price was low, perhaps only two glasses of wine per session. It can only be said that the people of Pompeii were so "promiscuous"!

Garden of the Fugitives

While excavating Pompeii, archaeologists discovered numerous bodies encased in volcanic ash. These bodies had decayed, leaving only bones and human-shaped cavities within the volcanic ash. The experts working at Pompeii at the time devised a way to preserve these cavities. They cast statues by pouring plaster of Paris into the bodies, thus documenting the tragic conditions of Pompeii.

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