"Pompeii" a Pompeii Travel Page by dvideira

Destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD, Pompeii was one of the most important commercial centers during Roman age.
Buried in ashes and pummice it was discovered in 1600 but the real work of excavation just began around 1800 and continues until today.

Most of the the site is now uncovered and its best mosaics and frescoes were led to the Archeological Museum in Naples - but yet there is so much for us to see there.

The eruption had two phases: first, on 24 august, "where material was ejected in a tall column, spread in atmosphere and fell to earth like rain" and second, on 25 august, "where material flowed down the sides of the volcano as fast-moving avalanches of gas and dust, called pyroclastic flow"
Due to the peculiarities of this eruption, the deposits of ash and pummice of the first phase acted as a shield for the lower structures of the buildings from the effects of the pyroclastic flow that followed.

Thanks to this, unlike many other archeological sites, Pompeii seems to be frozen in time. One almost expects its people to come back home "from work" at any moment...
( I must admit I felt a little bit intrusive there ).

The excavations reveal much about those ancient people and their ways of life. And is quite a journey to walk around and realize how close to us - despite all the centuries passed by - are some of their habits... family pictures on the walls, grafittis on buildings, fast food ( tavola calda ).

Here, if you are interested on the subject, is a link I've found on internet about volcanic phenomena at pompeii

I spent only one afternoon at Pompeii and It was a little bit frustrating not having enough time to see it all...
At least, I made myself a promise of going back some day...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On my way back - from Praiano to Naples train station - there were these few suggestive thin clouds in the sky.... right above the crater of Mt. Vesuvius... brrrrrrrrr

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------