On your day trip from Rome, discover the ancient Pompeii near Naples, on an epic historical adventure of the city's Forum, Temples and Market. Explore one of the most famous and extraordinary archaeological sites in the world and learn about Mount Vesuvius’ infamous eruption.
Guided by an expert historian, you’ll learn more about the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is buried under ash and rock – making the city almost frozen in time.
Now being one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, this city was once a thriving commercial centre on the Bay of Naples. Finish the tour by visiting the Temple of Venus, Jupiter and Apollo, as well as the Forum Baths to cap off this cultural trip in time, in this must-see picturesque town.
Start the tour outside Ancient Pompeii. Hear about the story of Mount Vesuvius and how Pompeii was destroyed back in 79AD. Eventually, Pompeii was unearthed, and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1977. Head to the Marina Gate, which marks how this city was once a coastal town. Take a quick glance at the Museum of Pompeii before heading further inside.
Visit the Temple of Venus, the Goddess of love, sailing and Pompeii! Venus wasn’t able to protect the city from destruction - but actually whilst some of the marble was probably robbed out or removed from here following the eruption, what you are seeing here was not completely the result of the volcano and its aftermath. The area might actually have looked quite a bit like this at the time of the eruption, as the temple was being rebuilt following an earthquake, and it hadn’t yet been completed.
Head down to the Basilica, the most important location in the city when it came to the administration of justice, if you had a grievance, this is where you came! Initially the basilica functioned as a sort of market, but by the 1st century AD it had morphed fully into a city court.
Head to the second Temple of the tour, the Temple to Apollo. This was one of the oldest places of worship in the city, in fact probably in this entire region of Italy. When the temple was first built, we think it opened initially onto the forum itself, but as Pompeii fell into the orbit of Roman civilisation, for whom Jupiter was a more significant god.
Visit the Forum, the bustling city centre. This was home to markets, major events and religious ceremonies. Work your way around the buildings and find everything from municipal buildings to a Temple of Roman Emperors. Visit the home of Eumachia, a priestess to the goddess Venus. She lived in Pompeii in the 1st century AD, was the owner of a very profitable wool business and built this structure, which was later used as a sort of warehouse or possible exchange site for fabrics.
Wander over to the Granary and learn about a food that Pompeii was famous for – a type of fish sauce called Garum was a local delicacy, made here in Pompeii. It may even have been stored in some of the vessels you see around you! Head down to the ancient public toilets and learn about the strange way Pompeii citizens relieved themselves.
Visit the Temple of Jupiter, which looks to be on a bit of a grander scale than the one to Apollo and Vespasian. There are big columns and two levels of stairs heading up to the interior. Jupiter was the king of the gods, called Zeus in Greece. Pompeii had first come under Roman influence in 310BC, the temple was built in around 150BC, but it was in 89BC that Roman culture really began to dominate here, and that’s why much of the Forum was remodelled in that time.
Enjoy a trip to the Marcellum, the main food market for Pompeii and the local villages. You could have found plenty of poultry, fish, fruit and vegetables. The head over to the Forum Baths and Thermopolium to wrap up the tour of Ancient life in Pompeii, perfect for citizens needing a wash or a quick bite to eat.
FInish the tour overlooking Mount Vesuvius in the distance. During the excavations in Pompeii, the bodies of some victims were discovered, frozen in the same position as when the eruption hit, covered by calcified layers of ash. The position they were lying in was preserved, even after their bodies decomoposed. Thanks to the method perfected by Giuseppe Fiorelli back in the 19th century, a little over a hundred plaster casts of these final positions have been made.
The Vidi Guides experience is enriched with on-screen photos and videos. We also point out where to take the perfect Instagram photos during the tour, and include recommendations for food, drinks, and local attractions. Don't worry, none of our recommendations are sponsored - they are simply favourites of the locals who helped craft the experience.
Vidi Guides creates immersive audio experiences that are like podcasts. This is a self-guided audio tour that can be started or stopped at your own convenience. Download the Vidi Guides app & your tour to explore the area independently and safely! Make sure to download your tour before your visit to streamline your trip!
