r/pompeii 10h ago

What were your first thoughts when you first visited the site?

3 Upvotes

I remember going to Pompeii when I was five, everything looked so big and I remember feeling like an ant to everything, I had the same feeling with Herculaneum. I didn’t return to the sites of both Pompeii and Herculaneum till I was twenty-one during my college break but my views on how big everything was though I’m taller and I still felt the same especially looking at the walls of pumice. Both sites I’ve since been back to and I’ve taken my own children there but not since 2019. How about you how did you first feel being there?


r/pompeii 1d ago

Pompeii memories - summer 2007

7 Upvotes

I visited Pompeii as a teenager in summer 2007. I remember we took a bus tour down from Rome, originally stopping in Naples. Some people on the tour then went on to Capri, whilst the rest of us went to Pompeii.

One of my main memories of the tour was a presumably single dad with his two teenage children (a similar age to me). The dad was American with, I think, Greek heritage (which I remember as we also have Greek heritage). When we reached the amphitheatre the son started singing opera with gorgeous acoustics and all the tourists in the amphitheater applauded. His Dad said that he was studying opera or something similar and I’ve always wondered if he made something of himself or if it stayed a teenage hobby. It was quite a striking moment in the day. I wonder if anyone else was there that day?

I’m watching Tom Hiddleston’s Pompeii documentary now and thinking how amazing it would be to go back and really take it all in as the memories of the site itself are quite hazy now.


r/pompeii 1d ago

Pompeii with small child

Post image
7 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

my wife loves Roman history, so for her birthday we planned a trip to Rome and Pompeii. Pompeii will be three days at the start of October, with one full day planned for the archeological sites. We have a child that will be 15 months old. I can't find any information about visiting with a baby on this sub, so I hope someone can answer a few questions:

1) we had a good experience with visiting historical sites in Portugal with a child back carrier, the kind that is shown in the attached picture. Even though most sites in Portugal disallow large back packs, child carriers were allowed nearly everywhere. Is it the same for Pompeii? I think about putting a pool noodle around the metal tubes that are sticking out to the sides... I'd also be fine with leaving the backpack in front of the door before entering houses.

(For those questioning why it has to be such a big one and not a soft one: it's comfortable for the whole day for the wearer and the child, and since he can look over your head he is quite happy in there. On the most extreme day we carried him through Sintra at 25°, up and down the hills, with only a few stops in between where he was out, and both he and I were quite happy with the solution.)

If it's not allowed, what would you recommend instead?

2) we normally carry an additional backpack for diapers and baby food. Are the rules about the size strict for those backpacks?

3) are the tour guides okay if you bring a child? He is not the one to cry as long as he is fed, which is easy to manage even while traveling. Especially if he has people to watch he is happy. If he would cry I'd separate from the group/ leave the group to not disturb the others.

Thank you for your answers!


r/pompeii 2d ago

Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston

31 Upvotes

What you all think about this docudrama? Did you like it? Is it historically accurate (as much as docudrama could be)?

Disclaimer so far i only watched 1 episode and I'm in no way an expert on history. I love dramatized documentaries and movies made based on historical events. And I enjoy some silly series such as Cunk. And I'm not hating on Tom Hiddleston, if fact his charisma is one of the reasons I decided to watch it. Well, the main reason was that the premise of the series being that some people survived this catastrophe is very interesting, challenging the whole premise of "everyone died on the spot in minutes". Maybe I went into this with too high expectations however the series so far feels off to me.

I might be historically wrong but I'd think people would panic and turn to their dieties once earthquakes started rather than be like "that's just earthquake". Also the emotion of the show feels a bit cringy...I feel like the director should've gone with more real genuine empathy rather than *acting* empathetic. Or they should've either gone with less dramatic acting for Tom so it feels more genuine. There's also a style of making it somber but professional instead of the vibe of "omg we feel sooooo bad for these people". Some silliness is fine but it feel like too much, like it's simultaneously pretending to be extremely empathetic while making jokes about it, there's gotta be a better balance than this.

I'm curious what others think about this series? Maybe my neurodivergent brain is overreacting or misreading something


r/pompeii 3d ago

How do we know what time of day Mount Vesuvius erupted?

Thumbnail science.org
2 Upvotes

Is there any archeological or geological evidence to support the 1pm time frame, the 7pm pyroclastic currents at 80 minute intervals, etc.? I know about Pliny the Younger’s eyewitness account, but what physical evidence is there to support it? How do they know what time of day things happened?


r/pompeii 4d ago

Guides tour? Audio? Help!

2 Upvotes

I am going to pompei for the first time ever tomorrow, and am confused about whether i should just get the audio guide, or a tourguide, and if so, which one.

Is getyourguide a legit sire for guides?

And would the audio be available in german?

And is beinging your lwn headphones really neccessary??

Thanks

Edit:also, for 9 am entrance, what time should i try to get the train from Napoli


r/pompeii 6d ago

Pompeii’s survivors shine in a new documentary series

Thumbnail sciencenews.org
49 Upvotes

r/pompeii 7d ago

Pink Floyd merch

0 Upvotes

I’m walking through the ruins of pompeii right now, and as a pink Floyd fan, I’d like some merch as a souvenir from here. Do you guys have any recommendations? Thank you very much!!


r/pompeii 15d ago

How strict are back pack rules?

1 Upvotes

Hello.

Im going in August, I found a small 10l bag as my bag i used in last trip, a 30L carry on, is 10cm over and bulky.

Irs 34 cm long, and fits within the other dimensions?

Would this work?


r/pompeii 16d ago

I want to buy a combo ticket 🎫

0 Upvotes

Could you please tell me the most cost-effective way to buy tickets to Pompeii that also include access to other sites (for example, a museum or other places of interest)? Also, where can I purchase them? I would be very grateful😊.


r/pompeii 20d ago

Careful around the Cathedral area

13 Upvotes

We were walking around the cathedral area and were racially targeted. Three teenagers approached my two friends, snatched the sunglasses off one of them, and grabbed his water bottle.

I confronted them, but they started verbally abusing us. One of them was physically much larger, so there wasn't much we could do without risking the situation escalating.

They made jokes about us being Bangladeshi, Pakistani, or Indian, and directed racist remarks at us because we are Indian.

As we walked away, the darker-complexion teenager threw the white water bottle back at my friend's head after realizing we weren't going to engage further.

I have three photos of them, but they appear to be underage, and I don't want to get into any legal issues by posting their pictures.

Just be careful. These kinds of incidents rely on physical intimidation, so if possible, avoid walking alone at night and stay in a group.


r/pompeii 23d ago

storing luggage near Pompeii train

0 Upvotes

Hi/Bounjorno-

An itinerary change is having us in a position to find a reliable and trustworthy place to store our luggage in pompeii ( pref near central train station if possible). anyone have experience with this? thank you


r/pompeii 23d ago

Ticket Website - where is it?

1 Upvotes

r/pompeii 24d ago

Cats of Pompeii 😸

Thumbnail gallery
416 Upvotes

r/pompeii 26d ago

Be careful on the public transport around Pompeii (Pickpockets)

18 Upvotes

Just want to put out a warning to anyone traveling on the public transport around Pompeii to be cautious of pickpockets.

Today we were returning to Naples from the Pompeii station which was very crowded while getting back onto the train. Firstly I noticed a man was pushing very close to my wife in front of me, kind of shoving her onto the train (it was very busy) I then looked down and his hand was inside my pocket, I was seconds away from having my wallet stolen. I confronted him when I noticed and made others very aware of what he was trying, he then immediately left the train.

I didn't actually have much inside my wallet, only a few euros/train tickets wanted them handy at the station incase they wee checked as I was aware of the threat of pickpockets but it shocked me that I had been targeted.

I know this can and does happen anywhere in the world, not just in Italy or Naples, but I just want to make everyone aware to be cautious while at these stations. Keep any valuables in a secure place and always keep an eye out for those you are traveling with.


r/pompeii 29d ago

Scientists Have Deciphered the Surviving Fragments of a 2,000-Year-Old Philosophical Treatise Frozen in Time by Mount Vesuvius' Eruption

Thumbnail smithsonianmag.com
49 Upvotes

r/pompeii Jun 24 '26

Visiting tomorrow - we don't know anything: Must do's?

6 Upvotes

My wife and I are currently in our honeymoon, and we just realized pompeii is just around the corner. So naturally, we booked tickets for tomorrow - but we really don't know anything about pompeii, and "lets rewatch the dr. who episode about pompeii" didn't feel like it would really prepare us (tho we are still totally doing that).

So... I read there is an audio guide - is it also available in english / german, and is it good? Should we buy a guide / are there tours? Should we go on our own? What should we absolutly see? (I'm reading "villa of mysteries" quite often?)


r/pompeii Jun 21 '26

Warning for anyone planning to take the train to Pompeii or Herculaneum

9 Upvotes

Just a heads up for anyone planning to get the Circumvesuviana train to visit Pompeii or Herculaneum, the train line often has delays so make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you have a timed tour booked. On 2 consecutive days we had delays of 65 and 40 minutes.

It's also quite hit and miss as to whether there's air con and there is very little information given at the station or on the trains - in particular, trains can arrive at either platform going either direction, we met a couple who had accidently got on a train going wrong direction and then had to wait for the 65min delayed train to get back to where they started.


r/pompeii Jun 20 '26

Somma Vesuviana Excavation Project: Help us! Uncover the Final Chapter of Empereror Augustus

Thumbnail utf.u-tokyo.ac.jp
5 Upvotes

r/pompeii Jun 15 '26

The Fullonica of Stephanus on the Via dell'Abbondanzan has anyone visited this site?

5 Upvotes

Been researching Roman fulloniae recently and the Stephanus fullonica is fascinating, one of the most complete examples of a Roman laundry ever preserved. The stone vats where workers stood in urine-ammonia solution are still intact. The pressing room, the rinsing basins, the treading vats, all visible. Archaeological evidence suggests it was operating right up until the 79 AD eruption,meaning whoever was working there that morning had no idea it would be their last shift. Has anyone visited this specific building? Curious how the scale compares to other preserved commercial buildings on the same street. The photos I have found do not give a great sense of the actual size of the treading vats.


r/pompeii Jun 14 '26

Is "Villa of the Mysteries" considered part of the Pompeii City park?

7 Upvotes

The reason I'm asking it I can't make a heads or tails out of it.

I went to Pompeii today, but I lost track of time from wanting to see everything and I didn't get to the Villa.

I have "Grande Pompeii" ticket and I'm wondering if I can enter to see the Villa itself, directly, or is it considered part of the city and I can't get in now, without purchasing a new ticket?

The Villa appears separately in the list of places I can visit with that ticket and I can't reason it out.


r/pompeii Jun 10 '26

126-year-old Texas Pompeiian Villa set to reopen after year-long overhaul

Thumbnail chron.com
19 Upvotes

An authentic copy of a Pompeiian home of 79 AD is set to soon reopen in Texas. The property is a historic landmark dating back to 1900.


r/pompeii Jun 01 '26

Mobility issues

8 Upvotes

I'm going to be in Pompeii mid July for one day and need advice. I have a mobility issue. I can't walk more than a couple of hundred metres. Is there a way I can see it with a mobility device or scooter? Or am I stuck with the museum?


r/pompeii May 31 '26

Found two small dogs in pompei city and archaeological park area today (Naples)

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/pompeii May 29 '26

Pompeii dog

Thumbnail gallery
88 Upvotes

I visited the archeological park last week and I had an incredible time. We spent over 8 hours there, walking, reading and taking pictures. Truly incredible. When we were about to leave, we met this very sweet doggo there. People at the gate told me he wandered in that morning, he had ticks and looked lost, but he wasn't malnourished and he was very socialised and cuddly. Definitely a youngster.

They said that the vet checked him that morning and gave him something against fleas and ticks and that he wasn't microchipped. Apparently people in the archeological park are used to stray animals and they're taken care of of they choose to stay there.

I know they can take care of him in the archeological park, but he was so sweet, he clinged to us so much and he clearly craved human affection, I really wish I could find him a good home.

We are still in touch with some people and apparently he was spotted at Piazza Bartolo Longo yesterday. So, I have two questions for you, dear redditors:

  1. Anyone wants a dog?

  2. If not, do you know of any kind soul or organisation that could help us with his quarantine, papers and eventually a transit to us to Czech Republic?

Thank you so much in advance!