Pompeii On Your Own

Spend hours of free time in Pompeii exploring the areas that sound most intriguing to you. Be sure to ask the guide for recommendations during the drive, so you can maximize your time at the famed archaeological site. At the entrance to Pompeii, you will pause to watch artisans hand-carve beautiful cameos using time-honored, traditional techniques. You will then be free to meander through the ruins at your own pace. During the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the entire city was buried under ash and pumice, which preserved it for centuries. Now excavated, the ruins offer an accurate picture of life 2,000 years ago, as the residents had little warning of the catastrophe to come or time to flee. Many of the buildings are largely intact and everyday objects are scattered about, just as they were when the volcano erupted. In all likelihood, you will also see macabre plaster casts of some of the victims.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• See the still-active volcano Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance on the way to Pompeii. • Watch artisans hand-carve cameos in a studio near at the entrance to Pompeii. • Spend hours meandering through the ruins at your own pace with no schedule to follow. • Explore the areas of Pompeii that sound most interesting and linger in them, if you choose.