Pompeii/Naples

After Rome, we took a quick bus to Naples, where we stayed for two days and explored the surrounding area and a bit of the city.

Some of the initial ruins in Pompeii with a view of Vesuvius looming in the background.

Pompeii is not so much a quick tourist destination as it is a city. Since the city of 13000 people was entirely buried and preserved, it sprawls out like any mid-sized town would today. The streets are windy and maze-like, and without a plan, it can be difficult to see everything that you want to see.

This is the large amphitheater of the city, where politicians and others would come to speak. The white stones are the original marble that was found in the excavation. The amphitheater has great acoustics.  

This is the original doorstep into one of the thousands of houses in Pompeii, and the mosaic depicts a dog and reads "Beware of Dog".

Some examples of the artifacts that are on display in a huge holding facility. The ancient anchor, statues, and carvings are very average artifacts for the area. 

From the famous "Garden of the Fugitives", where 13 individuals attempted to flee during the eruption and asphyxiated from the ash. The bodies were preserved, and these plaster casts were made during excavation of the bodies of the women and children. 

The chaotic and windy streets of Naples, the dirtiest city that we saw in Italy. A bit of a sketchy place, but was very unique.