As we entered the ruins my first thought was how big it looked, and then you start walking and walking and walking...the area is huge...they have actually excavated an entire city...public places, gov't offices, businesses, temples and residences. It's incredible that what you see was built 2000 years ago and then you think of the people that inhabitat the buildings. How terrified they must have been when Visuvious started spewing her deadly ash and throwing off her stones and lava. The ruins are remarkable, there are places it looks could be made habitable by a small amout of work, for instance, the baths look almost as they did on that fateful day in 79AD...unbelieveable. The amphitheatre (built 80 BC) which could hold 20,000 people looks like it could be used today...it is believed to be the 1st theater of it's kind in existence...the Palaestra is in such good shape it looks like it is used for some current events.
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| The Forum and Basilica of Pompei. |
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| Jupiter's Temple. |
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| The Amphitheatre |
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| Think of all the people who lost their lives in this Arena...Peace |
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| Made of marble...totally intact...used in restaurants I believe. |
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| Private residences were richly decorated... |
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| Lining the Forum right in front of the Comitium. |
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| The Forum baths |
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| In the Arena. |
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| The Palaestra |
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| Outside the Amphitheatre |
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| Looking towards the Temple of Apollo from the Forum. |
Italy has been wonderful, every time you visit some new place it quickly becomes your favorite...in 3 months we have seen and done a lot, but haven't really scratched the surface...I will say this, if your going to Italy and you miss the ruins of Pompei you should kick yourself...where else on earth can you see a whole city excavated and alive again after 20 Centuries.
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