SusanG

Hi everyone, I am looking at this website for Pompeii and they provide a map with "itineraries" and "map points of interest.
http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/en/pompei.htm
When I look at that map (knowing that I'll be enterting in the Porta Marina), I'm just wondering...what do you all reckon we can cover in a full (and long) day? I don't really have a sense of how many miles one will be covering. It it too much to hope for that we'll be able to cover that western quadrant over to about region IV and iX?? Was also hoping to cover some of the "new " things that are open. TIA!

Jean

I think the Pompeii Scavi area is about 5 square miles. (That's bigger than the town I live in.) We've spent two full days there and not seen everything. I admit we tend to explore places like this more slowly than some people. Our visits were in the fall when crowds are thinner and temps are more comfortable.

FWIW, there are "new" things, but some of the "old" things have recently collapsed.

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/03/p...struction.html

I think the best you can do is create your own itinerary, based on what you most want to see, and then try not to get sidetracked and lose time on other things.

SusanG

Jean, thanks so much, helpful to have some sense of what the actual size is. Of course you are right, we'll have to create an itinerary of "priorities." It's going to be a dream come true to see it. I wish we could spend more time there, but it is our first time in the south, and we are going to be seeing a lot!

Zerlina

One of the best suggestions for a day at Pompeii that I've seen is this article, which is now a few years old:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tra...icle828603.ece

SuzG

Zerlina, thanks. I remembered vaguely that I had seen that article, (on this forum, I'm sure) but had forgotten where it was. This will be really helpful.

abenedek

bookmarking

NanBug

We recently spent 8 hours there, in the off-season. We moved fairly quickly and felt like we covered most of what we wanted to see, including the Villa of the Mysteries.

Get there when they open up and beat the tour groups. We literally had the place to ourselves for the first 2 hours. My first photos are devoid of people. Do as much homework ahead of time so you can map out a route before you get there.

NanBug

Forgot to say, don't miss Herculaneum and Oplontis. Loved 'em both.

artsbabe

Ditto NanBug on Herculaneum and Oplontis!

Fra_Diavolo

I would recommend that you read Mary Beard's *Fires of Vesuvius* before you go. This is a very readable account of the history of Pompeii, and a detailed evocation of what life might have been like while it flourished. You may be surprised at some of her conclusions.

NanBug

Yes, Fra Diavolo is right -- Mary Beard's Fires of Vesuvius was extremely enlightening and help us interpret the site quite a bit. She also gives recommendations at the end for her favorite houses.

Also -- don't forget to reserve some of the locked houses ahead of time, if you can.

Jean

Another vote for Mary Beard's book.

CaliNurse

Many thanks to all for sharing this grat informatin. I'll be there in mid-June.

SusanG

Thanks everyone for all this great information. My archaeologist colleague also recomended this site to find your way around in Pompeii:
http://www.archaeology.co.uk/images/...ii-map2.htm#19
I will get the Mary Beard book and read it!
One last question, (ha ha) how does one make appointments to get into the "locked houses?" Happy Travels!

Fra_Diavolo

This is the site for making reservations, http://www.arethusa.net/, but it seems to be down just now.

ParadiseLost

Personally I would pass on the 'timesonline' route and end the visit by exiting at the Villa of the Mysteries (19) (I will use your website's spelling and number system as guide).

(I will refer to Via della Marina where you enter which then runs into the Via dell Abbondanza both as Main st.

Visit 1, 6, 5 by the Forum, drop down from main st and visit 9,10,11,12,17 go to 36 and then continue on to 14 by that sidestreet and then to 6 (Amphitheatre).

Back up to Main st. and hit the site down to 8 (Stabian Baths), then up to 25 Brothel (Lupanar Africani et Victoris)

At this point I would make decision; Do I want to take a food/bathroom break or continue on?
If you want a break head over to the Forum Baths (7) but visit that end of the Forum first (4 & 3).
Inside 4 (Macellum) one of the human plaster casts has a wide belt on which ID's that person as a slave).

Either way at this point it's up to you to decide how you personally want to tackle the top half of the site.
Just exit at the Villa of the Mysteries and walk back 500m to the Circumvesuviana.

This used to be one of those little tidbits that was overlooked by probably 99% of the visitors, it was in an unmarked locked house and could only be seen thru the barred door setback inside.

Now I see by online photos the house is now open and it appears to be an audioguide stop.
This site is at 26 (Fullary of Stephanus) and facing Main St (It used to numbered 11 in the right doorjam)

This tidbit is a 3 legged marble table (top missing) with the inscription 'P Casca Longus' on the legs.
Go to;
http://www.pompeiiinpictures.com/pom...%2006%2011.htm OR http://tinyurl.com/4zecapp
(most of the table info is on Page 2)

Suddenly Tillius graps Julius Caesar's robe with both hands and pulls it down from his neck.
This is the prearranged signal to attack.

P. Casca Longus who is behind Caesar stabs him slightly between the shoulder and the neck.
Caesar grabs Casca's hand/dagger and with his other hand stabs Casca in the arm with his stylus (pen). And shouts "Vile Casca, What does this mean?"
Caesar rises still stuggling with Casca and yells in Greek "Brother Help!" (to Antony I assume?). �

Now they all attack, for they all have promised one other that they all will inflict 1 wound.
A pact in blood that will tie them all together, for better or worst.

Have A Wonderful Visit! Regards, Walter

zeppole

In mid-June it's going to be hot, so dress as cool as you possibly can -- don't worry about the fashion police, they're all tourists anyway -- and bring lots of sun protection. Water too. Wear shoes that don't slide around on your feet because the walking surfaces are incredibly uneven.

I was in Pompeii a few months ago and the stories about things "falling down" are exaggerated for no end of political reasons, and not just in Italy.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

The reasons are not merely political... although almost any government anywhere would today find the prospect of shedding tens of thousands of state employees an attractive one?

But, as you'll perhaps have read, there are plenty of commercial organisations interested in the privatisation of such prime visitor attractions - and generous promises to "rescue" them from incompetent officialdom abound!

Where's the National Trust when you need it?

Peter

cathies

zeppole is right that it will probably be very hot. I took everything she suggests and wished that I had a little fold-up umbrella with me, so if you have one, throw it in your bag.

caroline_edinburgh

We finally got round to going last year, used the timesonline itinerary suggested by Zerlina and found it excellent, along with the headsets for added information on each location. Although we'd taken that itinerary with us, we initially thought it might be easier just to go for one of those suggested in the booklet accompanying the headsets (I think there were 2, 4 & 6 hour options). However after moving between the first few locations and realising we were doing the same route as lots of other people including large and noisy tour groups (even though we had got there early - and this was in early May), we decided to go for the timesonline one after all. One of the best aspects was that for quite a bit of the time we really were away from the hordes and I we had what we thought was the single best building almost to ourselves - presumably it's too far for the guided tours to bother with. We were there for 7 hours including a shortish lunch break.

The next day we went to Herculaneum which was really good too in different ways. It would normally have only taken about 3 hours at the most, I think, but I was so tired after Pompeii that I had to keep sitting down so took most of a day again !