Day trip to Pompei from Rome!

Italy for travelers is like a treasure trove! There is so much to see and absorb that time falls short. Southern Italy is known for it’s beauty- the Amalfi coast, Naples and the Island of Capri are gorgeous and cannot be missed. And in the heart of all of this, lies the 2000 year old ruins of a city named Pompei. Of course we have all heard of Pompei, of the thriving Roman city of ancient times which succumbed to the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the 79 A.D. and the city with it’s people were buried under ash and rock. This allowed for an exceptional preservation. Although the excavations are still underway, what we get to see are marvels in architecture and art.

For a traveler who has planned a few days in southern Italy, Pompei would be easily accessible. All you need to do is reach the Circumvesuviana (which is a circular train line) that runs around Naples to Sorrento. It will take you there. On the other hand for travelers (like us) who have largely planned a Northern Italy trip  and couldn't help but cram in Pompei for a day, here goes some excerpts, which could be very useful- 

1. We had visited Italy in August, which is the summer season so the tourism peaks at that time. We had pre-booked our train ticket from the Trenitalia site  for  Roma Termini to Napoli, and back. And fortunately so, as the train was fully booked for the 6:30 AM slot! It was a 2 hour train ride, which took us to Napoli. Circumvesuviana line is in the basement  level of the same station. We booked our day pass on Circumvesuviana, and boarded the train line for Pompei.
2. The site is half a minute away from the station. There will be agents scouting to take you in as guides. But it is advisable to hire only registered guides. We had taken Audioguides which are available at the counter, and are very convenient as we got the flexibility to chose and navigate with the map.
3. The day we visited Pompei, it was sweltering and humid. There is a store inside the site with refreshments.
4. Once inside the site, the ruins are as fascinating to see as are the stories to hear of each of the site’s Temples, Casa (resident houses), The Forum, Amphitheater, Circus.
5. Forum was the economical, political and religious center of the city. It was the place where the political debates and the religious manifestations took place: the heart of the city. During the 2nd century BC, Pompei's city dwellers, decided to give the forum a dimension according to its important function.The works were completed with the construction of 'travertine' marble road surfacing, which is still visible. Once in the center of the square you can see the Temple of Apollo, the ancient religious structure it’s the most important and ancient in Pompei. The statues of the divinity that decorated the temple were transferred to the Archaeological Museum of Naples.

                                                          Temple of Apollo at Pompei

                                                                The Forum at Pompei

Cost incurred-
40 EUR - IC tickets Round trip for Rome to Naples per person
6.5 EUR - Circumvesuviana pass for 1 Day per person
6   EUR- Audioguide
11 EUR- Entry to Pompei per person

For any further queries on this trip, you may reach us on Twitter @TheAntblog