Day 7 of our cruise, we docked at Naples, near the town of Pompeii. There are a lot to do and see around here, but I have heard about how awesome Pompeii is, so we chose the excursion, Pompeii on Your Own, which included a transfer to the Pompeii Archeological Park as well as the entrance fee. This excursion was free after applying the $50 Free At Sea discount.
Pompeii Archeological Park is the site of the Mount Vesuvius eruption in A.D. 79. When the eruption happened, a lively, wealthy, vibrant town was covered in volcanic ash, and thousands of lives were lost, but a glimpse of their lifestyle was preserved forever. Walking around the park, you can see the ruins of houses, amphitheater, streets, etc. It goes on forever. You would really need to take a few days to be able to do it all.
The Quadriporticus of the theatres was initially built for spectators to go in during the intervals of the shows, but later transformed into a shelter for the gladiators. This means people knew how to re-purpose structures as needed.
There are many theaters in this area. I assume it’s because there wasn’t radio shows, TVs or movies.
View from above:
One of the ancient streets:
One of the homesteads. Each house is numbered and named here.
Some of the homes were more preserved and open for touring, like an open house. These homes often feature fresco paintings on walls. There was also a museum on site that gave more information about the towns volcanic past. Mount Vesuvius erupted many times over the course of history, but the one in AD 79 was the most significant. There has been no eruptions since 1944.
I bet this house was like a mansion at the time.
There was also a Pink Floyd exhibition, because of their 1972 show performed at the amphitheater here.
This excursion is honestly a must-do and if you have Free At Sea promotion, it’s free, so it’s really a no-brainer. One word of caution: the archeological site is very big and there are multiple entrance and exits. Once you are in it, it may feel like a maze and you may get lost. It’s pretty hot in the summer and there is no water fountains. There are maps at the entrance but it’s not easy to read. I suggest using the map app on your phone to help you find your way should you get lost. Near where we were dropped off by the bus (one of the entrances to the park), there’s a jewelry store with a nice gallery that’s free to visit.
There are also many street vendors and cafes in this area which was fun to walk through. We enjoyed some fresh squeezed juices at one of the many shops here. This was an amazing day!