Sat in the shadow of Mt Vesuvius, around 14 miles from Naples, Pompeii is a fascinating and evocative place. A Unesco World Heritage Site, here you can wander along preserved Roman streets for a glimpse at ancient life, peering into houses, shops and temples as you stroll.

The origins of Pompeii are shrouded in mystery, but it is believed it was settled in the 7^th century BCE by Campanian Oscans, before falling to the Greeks, Samnites and finally the Romans in 80 BCE. Around 140 years later there was a major earthquake which caused many of the 200,000 residents to flee the city, never to return luckily, as just 17 years later Vesuvius erupted, burying Pompeii in around 5 metres of volcanic ash and pumice.

About 2,000 people perished and the city remained hidden until 1594. But it wasn’t until 1748 that excavations were begun and even today, only 44 of 66 hectares have been uncovered. So unique due to the fact it was buried rather than completely blown away by the eruption, Pompeii is a fascinating and compelling place to explore, made even more exciting by the fact that new discoveries are regularly uncovered. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest offers and receive £50pp off  your Wendy Wu tour.

Subscribe