Pompeii: History Cloaked In Ash
The town of Pompeii is one of the most visited areas of Italy; a city not in need of any more tourist traps. But unlike other tourist destinations in the country such as Rome or Florence, there is no buzzing night life or historical thrills to be gained at Pompeii. For Pompeii is a city covered in ash, a moment frozen in time, and many visitors describe it as an extremely moving experience.
Pompeii’s history begins in AD 79. Along with sister town Herculaneum, Pompeii became victim to an eruption by a nearby volcano – Mount Vesuvius. When Vesuvius erupted, the residents of Pompeii – never having seen such a site before, and unfortunately thousands of years away from being able to check what they were seeing on the internet – were unsure what to do. While some residents attempted to escape the town, many did not. When the ferocity of Vesuvius continued uncontrollably, Pompeii – and any residents still inside – was buried in volcanic ash, preserving it for centuries to come. Modern historians estimate that Pompeii was buried in up to 60 foot of ash.
The site, over time, has been excavated, though Pompeii has never returned to full public use. Due to some of the horrors found within – bodies were not present, but the ash-solid casings of them were, often curled on floors in horror – the site has long been declared a sacred place.
Modern Pompeii still has the body casts of the unfortunate residents who did not flee in time, along with numerous other artifacts from the exact day that Vesuvius erupted. The ash coating preserved everything almost perfectly, providing a unique snapshot from a moment in history.
Although a sobering experience, over 2.5 million tourists visited Pompeii in 2008. It is best reached by bus or shuttle from Rome, though can be traveled to across the Bay of Naples. There are numerous and daily sightseeing expeditions to the area, and for any Italian tourist, it is an absolute must. And just in case you were worried; Vesuvius has been silent and dormant since 1822.
