FROM ROME TO POMPEII

 TYPE: ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK, OPEN AIR 

DEGREE: MUST SEE

Are you in Rome wondering which place or city could you visit on a day trip?

Here you will find a helpful route out of the city that you can have in one day: 

POSITION

HOW TO REACH IT?

The first step to reach Pompeii is to take a high-speed train from Termini station to Naples central station. From there you should get off the train and follow the panels downstairs to Circumvesuviana. There are trains from Naples Central to Pompei Scavi (Pay attention, not “Pompei” but “Pompei Scavi” one-stop located at just a few minutes of walk to the archeological site) every 30 minutes. 

From there you just have to cross the street and you will find the main entrance of the site in front of you.

To come back to Rome you will do the same in reverse.

Prices: 

Train from Rome to Naples: buying in advance you could find tickets from 9.00 € to 19.00 €.

Circumvesuviana: 6.40 € round trip. No in advance booking needed or possible, you can buy your ticket at the box inside the stations.

Little advice: If you would like to combine the visit to Pompeii with lunch in Positano or Sorrento, or with a combined visit to the archeological site of Ercolano, it is really recommended to rent a car from Rome or a full day private driver service.

Train tickets can be bought ONLINE

WHAT MAKES THIS TOWN SPECIAL?

• Pompeii is one of the most amazing attractions in Italy;
• One entire ancient city, completely covered by lava during the eruption of the Vesuvio volcano in 79AD;
• Every piece of this big archeological site seems frozen at the moment in which it has been reached by lava.

WHAT TO SEE:

At the entrance to the Archeological site will be provided a map: you will visit one entire ancient city, be prepared and locate in advance on the map what you want to see.

MUST GO PLACES:

THE FORUM OF POMPEI

It was the political, economic and religious center of the city. There were many different shops and colonnades to protect people during their walk around the square.

At the center of the square, there are, still visible, the ruins of the magnificent Temple of Apollo.

AMPHITHEATER

It could seat 12.000 people and is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheater.

HOUSE OF MENANDER

It represents the best-preserved house in Pompei.

It is composed of one big atrium with a little temple on a side and a colonnade all-around a central pool, in which water flowed down from the completely preserved wooden roof.

The rooms inside are decorated with different scenes from Homer’s Iliad. 

TERME STABIANE (BATHS)

Composed of a big and central colonnaded palestra (gym) and many other spaces with different kinds of pools and baths, it represents the best-preserved example of Roman hot springs in Italy.

THE LUPANAR

People in Pompeii loved the fleshly pleasures, they were pagans and used to show their passions.

There were many houses in Pompeii with secret rooms in which women sold their bodies; the Lupanare was one structure completely organized at this scope.

Indeed, the word “lupanar” comes from “Lupa” which means “wolf” and in Latin was used to mean “prostitute”.

Above each door, there are still visible frescoes showing different erotic positions, in the specific, it was the specialty of the woman who was in that room.

VILLA OF THE MYSTERIES 

This villa is the real gem of the entire archeological site, it is considered the house of the finest surviving ancient wall painting: 17 meters of frescoes in shining and brilliant original colors.

Probably, during years, this place vas converted in a dionysiac meeting place: the frescoes show people during the initiation ritual.

Prices: 15.00 €, 2.00 € (people under 18)

It is really suggested to buy a ticket with priority access online at 18.90 €, in order to optimize your visit.

Opening hours: apr-oct 9.00 AM - 3.30 PM; nov-mar 9.00 AM - 6.00 PM.

WHAT TO EAT?

Pompei is located in Campania, the motherland of pizza, mozzarella, and pasta, but it is also a good place to have an excellent fish lunch.

Suggested restaurants:

• Casa Gallo, Via Lepanto 100, Pompei;
• Il Principe, Via Colle San Bartolomeo, Pompei;
• Hortus Pompei, Via Villa dei Misteri, Piazza Porta Marina Superiore, Pompei;
• Varnelli Pizza e Bistrot, Via Plinio 15, Pompei.

RECOMMENDED ARCHEOLOGICAL AREA ITINERARY :

• From Rome to Pompei scavi (With a stop in Naples as indicated) with an early wake-up call in order to get to Pompei Scavi Station approximately at 10.00 AM/10.30 AM;
• Get tickets and map;
• Foro;
• Lupanar;
• Terme Stabiane;
• Casa Del Menandro;
• Amphitheater;
• Villa dei Misteri;
• Lunch at Hortus Pompei restaurant;
• Back to Pompei scavi station to get to Naples and then to Rome.