See how the ancient people of Pompeii lived by seeing all the greatest artefacts leftover!

 

Pompeii is truly an unforgettable sight to see in person, once being the home to the ancient Romans. The entire city is ruins, with each building and artefact found here thousands of years old! Discover all the best spots to see in this glorious tourist spot!

The Amphitheatre

Pompeii was once a thriving city, known as one of the wealthiest trading regions of the Roman Empire. Rich foods, fashion, and jewels were plentiful here, with many Romans using this as their summer vacation spot. Due to its popularity, the city created a fabulous amphitheatre, which held over 12,000 spectators in its prime. Hosting a range of games including gladiatorial tournaments, animal fights, and more! The Amphitheatre was built-in 80 BC, making it is one of the oldest buildings in existence today. The structure was carved into the ground, so it does not feature the underground networks like the colosseum, but the size and preservation of the amphitheatre will leave you in awe!

The House of the Vetti

The House of the Vetti is one of the best examples of a typical Roman mansion back in ancient times. Being a extremely well preserved home, with the main attraction being the series of frescoes displayed on the inside walls. These frescos have remained bright in colour, a striking red that is extremely stunning to see in person. Learn about the history and discover who the wealthy merchants who once called this spot home! allows you to see how the rich would have lived.

House of the Faun

It was once the richest residence of Pompeii, stretching out to over 30,000 square feet of space. The lavish home is worth the visit for its mosaics alone, with some so beautiful they have been moved to the National Museum of Naples. The House of the Faun was named after the statue of the dancing faun found in the house. Back in ancient times, Fauns were seen as creatures that symbolise wildness, vitality, and sexuality, with the statue most likely displayed to bestow these traits onto the household.

The Lupanar

One of the most unusual features of Pompeii was the overwhelming number of Brothels hidden about. Back then, it was a common occurrence for men to stop into these brothels for a quick visit, with the taboo much less apparent. Lupanar was the largest of all the brothels, and it can still be seen today! Erotic frescoes cover the inside walls, displaying intimate moments which historians believed acted as a certain ‘menu’ for visitors. However, the rooms of this ancient building show the dark side of the Brothels of Pompeii, with the small rooms with no windows and rock beds showcasing the hard and cramped lifestyle the women, who were typically salves, endured.

The Forum

Back in the day, this was the main centre for political, cultural and religious activities in Pompeii. It was the central square, bordered by buildings, shrines, and temples. Politicians would routinely discuss town matters in this centre, and markets popped up here on sertain days bringing in traders and tourists alike.

Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo was known as the city’s most important religious building. It was built in the 6th century, with the temple surrounded by columns, statues, and stunning garden structures. Nowadays, it has crumbled quite significantly, but visitors can still easily imagine its grandeur back in its prime time.

The Antiquarium

Once you have strolled the crumbling streets of Pompeii, why not head to the museum to see the artefacts found over the many years of exploration. Housing many of the artefacts uncovered, with incredibly well-preserved furniture, artwork, and personal belongings. There are even the casts of the victims, which is a poignant feature for anyone visiting Pompeii. Created when historians preserved the remains of skeletons found in Pompeii with liquid plaster. The shocking casts display the last moments of these beings, with some cradled up in a ball, or others grasping their loved ones.

Related article: The Rediscovery of Pompeii

Recommended Pompeii Tours: Pompeii Tour from Rome
Price: €120
Company: Sightseeing Tours Italy

This post was originally posted on https://sightseeingtoursitaly.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/the-best-spots-in-pompeii/

Castelli Romani, also known as the Roman Castles, are Rome’s southeast countryside towns. These towns sprinkle the hills that are encircled by two volcanic crater lakes. Travel out of the hustle and bustle of Rome and discover the forty shades of green covering the countryside. How can you beat that?

Each town has their own history; however, the entire area was formed by a volcano. Monte Cavo, also known as Monte Albano, is an ancient volcano that extinguished around 10, 000 years ago. The eruption caused the formation of valleys, the regeneration of lush green to cover the hills, as well as two famous volcanic lakes. The Lakes are known as Lago Nemi and Lago Albano. The name Castelli Romani comes from the Roman nobles using this area as their summer dwellings. The Pope to this day still uses it as his summer home in Castel Gandolfo.

Only less than an hour’s drive from the city’s bright lights, Castelli Romani is a great weekend getaway or stopover on your way to the famous Pompeii.

Albano Laziale

In the heart of the Roman Castles lies Albano Laziale. One of the most popular towns in the region, this town is famous for its art, churches, history, and culture. Its history is rich, dating back to the first millennium BC.

Castel Gandolfo

One of the most popular summer destinations for past and current Romans. Bursting with beautiful churches, astonishing natural wonders, and spectacular villas. See the lake Albano sparkle in the sun as your stroll through the town’s colourful streets.

Nemi

The town the Lake Nemi was named after, the town overlooking the small volcano lake from above. Art and nature coexist beautifully in this small town, creating a tranquil atmosphere of winding alleys and bursting greenery. The town has flourished throughout history, said to be the birthplace of the first king of Rome, Romulus. Discover the ancient Nemi ships in this region, said to be incredibly developed for their time.

Frascati

A small town with villas scattering the area built mostly in the 16th century. The main villa, Villa Aldobrandini, dominates the town and draws many travellers to its gates. Take the weight off your feet and park yourself down at one of the local restaurants. Make sure to try the white wine as it is renowned in the area.

Rocca Priora

For a jaw-dropping view, venture up to Rocca Priora, the highest town in the province. Take in the view of the red cobblestone roofs and lush green carpet covering the breathtaking Castelli.

Castelli Romani is well worth the visit, with stunning scenery and rich history. Whether you want to relax near the lake or trek up to the highest peak, Castelli Romani is for you! Visit our Pompeii Tours to learn more about Castelli Romani!

To view our range of Pompeii Tours, please visit: https://www.pompeiitours.it/

This post was originally posted on https://sightseeingtoursitaly.wordpress.com/2018/09/18/where-is-castelli-romani/

The fermentation of wine may have been picked up in Ancient Greece, however, it was the Ancient Romans that mastered the mass production of the alcoholic beverage. The wine was considered an integral part of the daily diet of the ancient people, only surpassed by water and milk. It was a drink that even slave’s and women could have, and it is said that for every citizen, a bottle of wine was drunk a day. Whilst women could only drink small amounts of the sweet wine, men could drink however much they wanted. You may wonder how the entire population was not inebriated at all times of the day, and this is due to the fact that the wine was weakened by mixing it with sea water. The wine was safer to drink than water as the alcohol in it counteracted for the bacteria found in the water. The Romans turned the production of winemaking into such a profitable business due to their low-cost methods of production.

The amount of money you spent on wine contributed to your status in Roman society, and it was white wine that the people preferred. The saw red wine as an inferior variation, only drank by soldiers and the poor. In fact, it wasn’t until much later that Romans began to accept red wine, but even then, it was not the deep ruby red shades we drink today, but closer to what we know as rose. It was extremely difficult to drink straight due to its vinegary and bitter taste, however, the Barbarians are thought to have done this. Instead, Romans mixed their wines with herbs and spices, or honey which was called muslum wine.  As a result of these mix ins, wine was used medicinally to cure depression, vertigo, and tapeworms.

Winemaking in Pompeii was a lucrative industry and the hub of wine production in the whole of Europe. The people worshipped Bacchus, the God of wine, as evident by the many frescoes that he is depicted on. Their loyalty to the God was so devout that there was a cult of followers who followed Bacchus. In one of the more cryptic properties of Pompeii, the cult of Bacchus, known to the Ancient Greeks as Dionysus, is portrayed in a large fresco, where it is seen that a member is being initiated into this secretive cult. Make no mistake however, there was more to this group than just drinking, they were all deeply spiritual and had to attend many ceremonies and rituals to appease Bacchus.

The proximity to Vesuvius meant that the soil was extremely fertile, combined with the Southern Italian warm temperatures, it became the perfect location for planting grapes. After the grapes were harvested, slaves would stomp on them by foot and then place them in terracotta pots where they were then buried in the ground. The pots were left open during fermentation, however, unlike the wine of today, were only matured for a few months before they were served. The terracotta pots they were held in were called amphorae, each pot with their own label that showed the place of origin and what type of wine it is. We also know now that all amphorae varied in style depending on where they were from, which helps researchers determine the country of origin.

Many residents of Pompeii had patches of land connected to their houses with vines in it, in fact, it is reported that approximately two-thirds of the villas had their own vineyards. The most popular wine was local, from Campania. This variety was called Falernus, which produced the area’s most famous wine- Falerian. It was the most expensive wine in the Empire and was a sweet white wine with the highest percentage of alcohol available at the time, which was 16%. At the House of Amarantus, a wine shop in Pompeii, over 30 amphorae were found with over 8 grape varieties used. Some of these included Greco, Fiano and Piediross. It is also known that the locals imported wines from Crete, Sicily and for the wealthier members of society; Turkey.

In one particular era of the Roman Empire, Emperor Domitian issues a decree banning some vineyards as the people were starving, and farmers were planting vines instead of wheat. After Vesuvius erupted, the vineyards were destroyed making wine extremely expensive and only available to the wealthy who could afford the imported wines.

Thanks to casts of the vines made by 19^th century archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli and the Ancient Roman scholar Pliny the Elder’s book ‘Naturalis Historia’, a team of researches and the winemakers behind Mastrobeardino began a project in the 1980’s to restore the ancient vineyards of Pompeii. Due to the in-depth description of that varieties written about in Pliny’s book, and the frescoes in Pompeii that distinguish what grapes were used, researches have been able to plant the right grapes in the same style as the Romans.

Whilst they are mostly sticking to the techniques that the Ancient Romans used, the process has been modified to suit the tastebuds of modern society. The Falerian wine once heavily enjoyed by citizens of Pompeii can now set you back over a hundred dollars for a litre and can be found by the bottle in high end restaurants. If the price tag of Falerian wine seems a little high to you, you can always do the next best thing which is visit Pompeii! While you may picture the ruins as a vast site with solely buildings and frescoes, this isn’t the case. Since the excavations, the fertile soil has begun producing again, with many green vineyards on the rise due to the diligence and research of the archaeological society and Mastrobeardino winemakers.

Recommended Pompeii Tours: Pompeii Tour from Rome

Price: €129

Tour Company: Sightseeing Tours Italy

This post was originally posted on https://sightseeingtoursitaly.wordpress.com/2019/09/04/wine-in-ancient-pompeii/

Pompeii is one of the main attractions in the entire country of Italy. With a smorgasbord of history laid out in a picturesque open-air museum, the city is the largest and longest continuous archaeologist site in the entire world. If you’re limited on time within this grand expanse of history, don’t stress yourself silly with organising! As this article has all the tips and tricks into making all you need to know and plan for your day trip to Pompeii!

How to get there

Getting there can be tricky depending on where you start off. With main cities such as Rome or Naples being the home bases for most travelling to Pompeii. Therefore, working out the quickest, easiest, and cheapest option prior to heading off can help you cut down on any frustration and limit your morning.

Car

For those independent travellers out there, hiring or taking your own car to Pompeii will most likely look like the most attractive option. From Rome, it takes around two and a half an hour, without any breaks along the way. If you are planning on doing this, make sure to set off early to leave plenty of tourist time for the day, and to avoid the peak hour, as Italy roads can be notoriously busy.

Train

If you aren’t a fan of driving, simply hop on a train in the morning and sit back and relax. The train head down the entire coastal area, guaranteeing you a stunning scenic ride along the way. This route usually takes around a couple hours, with ticket prices going up or down in price depending on where you are coming from, and which cabin class you choose.

How to see it

Tours

Not sure what to do once you get there? Instead of making your own way to Pompeii, hop on a tour! Here you can get picked up straight from your hotel door, cruising down the coast on the luxury bus. The guide can inform you of all of Pompeii’s secrets along the way and take you to each spectacular attraction once there. Instead of flipping through a brochure or looking up the city online, simply ask your guide for all the incredible facts of the historic region.

By Yourself

A lot of folk travel to Pompeii without a plan set in place, simply saying that they’ll wander around until they have had enough. To do the entire area efficiently in a day without missing out on anything, this is probably not a great idea. With many using a lot of their time deciding on the next attractions and losing steam after only a couple sites. Working out what you want to see prior to arriving, as well as looking at the map of each site to route your trip well, can cut out the frustration and fatigue you might get otherwise.

The Best Season to go

The most popular time to travel to Pompeii is during the April to October period. With hot sticky days filling up the months, and herds of foot traffic taking over the streets. The tours are bumped up in price, and the trains become swarmed with visitors. Although you do get better weather in the high season, the multitude of tourists and stinky hot days can make this an exasperatingly sweaty adventure. Skip this and instead travel in the offseason, starting from November to March. Although you will face chiller days, you can enjoy the peaceful ancient streets of Pompeii without bumping shoulders with others. Prices also drop in this time so the cheaper, the better!

The Top Day to visit

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are by far the most popular days to visit, with even some Europeans stopping in for a visit on the weekend. Visiting in the middle of the week won’t guarantee you a completely deserted city but it will help with the lines and price!

The Quietest Time

Due to most tourists travelling to Pompeii from Rome or Naples, the majority of the crowds won’t arrive until later in the morning. Therefore, staying the night prior nearby or setting off before the sunrise emerges can help you arrive at a completely deserted Pompeii. Giving you a good hour to walk around freely before the lines start forming. This occurs during the afternoon as well, the with the crowds packing up after lunchtime.

Top Tourist Attractions

Amphitheatre

Pompeii’s crumbling stadium is known as the oldest roman amphitheatre in existence. Back in the day, it was a towering stadium able to seat a whopping 20,000 people at once. It held violent entertainments, such as the famous gladiator games, or executions.

Baths

To ancient Romans, bathing was both a public and social activity, completely different from our modern-day bathrooms. It was unheard of to ever have a private bath, with both the rich and poor all visiting the public baths once a day. These baths were more like pools, with different temperatures pools, spa rooms, and courtyards to relax. These baths are still scattered around the city, with some still having their elaborate frescos and decorations remaining.

Brothels

For a more tantalising venture, visit the many brothels lining the streets. Brothels were both a legal and a common occurrence within Pompeii, with many men visiting the buildings frequently.   The buildings contain small intimate rooms, with the walls covered in erotic frescos. Although the Pompeii people were comfortable with their sexual indulgences, the reality of the sex worker’s lives is quite tragic. Visit these ancient buildings and learn about the truth behind these brothels while seeing the spectacular art spattered on the walls.

These are our top picks of attractions, but there are many more to see. By squeezing these sites at the start, you will have plenty of time to see the rest of the iconic sights before heading home.

Recommended Pompeii Tours: Pompeii Day Tour from Rome

Price: €129

Tour Company: Sightseeing Tours Italy

This post was originally posted on https://sightseeingtoursitaly.blogspot.com/2019/09/how-to-see-pompeii-in-one-day.html