Pompeii

I had a one day break from city and historic monuments and went for a walk through olive groves, vineyards and forest around Frascati. In the evening we took the train to Pompei, where we would have one full day to visit the UNESCO world heritage site, the Roman city of Pompeii, which was buried by 4-6 m of ash from the eruption of the Mount Vesuvius volcano in 79 (Wikipedia). It is pretty amazing to walk around in such a well preserved Roman town, which gives quite a good impression of what city life might have been like in Roman times. 

Na 4 dagen in Rome had ik een dag in Frascati en heb toen een wandeling door de olijfgaarden, wijngaarden en bossen rondom Frascati gemaakt. 's Avonds zijn we met de trein naar Pompei gegaan, waar we een hele dag hadden om het UNESCO werelderfgoed, de Romijnse stad Pompeii, te bezichtigen. Pompeii werd als gevolg van de uitbarsting van de vulkaan Vesuvius in het jaar AD 79 onder 4-6 m as begraven en is daardoor vrij goed bewaard gebleven. Het is overweldigend om door zo'n wel bewaarde Romijnse stad te kunnen lopen en het geeft een goede indruk van het stadsleven in de Romijnse tijd.

The Basilica of Pompeii, the centre of business and court of justice.

The Civil Forum, the main square in town. Surrounded by municipal offices, temples, the main food market, and the Basilica.

The Odeon, the small theatre (located next to the large theatre).

A street with stepping stones (pedestrian crossing). You can clearly see the grooves made by cart wheels.

Wall painting with two white elephants in the House of the Lararium of Achilles.

One of the many thermopolia (fast food counter) in Pompeii, where hot food and wine was sold. This is the thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus.

The amphitheatre on the left, and the Palestra Grande, which contains an athletics field and swimming pool, on the right.

Beautiful mosaic floor showing many animals in the House of Paquius Proculus.

Another Pompeii street, looking towards the cloud covered Mount Vesuvius.

A changing room in the large Terme Stabiane (thermal bath complex with hot and cold baths and a gymnasium), with niches in the wall to put clothing.

Large oven in one of the bakeries.

Millstones in one of the bakeries.

Guard dog mosaic at the entrance of the House of the Tragic Poet.

House of the small fountain.

Storage for all the objects found during the continuing excavation, including some casts of bodies.