Amphitheatre of Pompeii

For some reason my first post on Pompeii was deleted, so I'll repeat my review here. Our guide provided a fascinating insight into one of the most iconic historical sights and best recorded volcanic eruptions ever documented. If it wasn't for the torrential rain, I would have spent even more hours investigating this incredible place. Must be on your 🪣 list if your interested in ancient history.

Travelled to Pompeii by train from Naples. Ticket bought online entry was thru Amphitheatre, 2 km walk from the front entry. Walked into amphitheatre and a show was going on. Fantastic! Spent whole day in Pompeii experiencing ancient lives till closing. A day well spent.

Pompeii is absolutely fascinating. Walking through the ancient streets feels like stepping back in time, with incredibly well-preserved ruins, mosaics, and frescoes around every corner. The sheer scale of the site and the level of detail you can still see make it both awe-inspiring and humbling. It can get busy and hot, but the history and atmosphere make it completely worth it. A must-visit for anyone interested in ancient Rome or unforgettable travel experiences.

Very nice tour, very hot place with lots of walking. There was one family with a wheelchair and a couple with strollers and they were obviously struggling. The streets are original stones in which you can see the marks made by chariots, I understand now why people who had disabilities were carried into the town squares.

Where History’s Echoes Are Deafening When you walk through the ruins of Pompeii, you are surrounded by the intimate, everyday ghosts of a lost city—the homes, the bakeries, the temples. But when you arrive at the amphitheater, you feel something entirely different. You feel the roar. This is not just another Roman amphitheater; it is the original. Built around 70 BC, this stone giant is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheater on Earth, predating the Colosseum in Rome by over a century. Standing in its arena, you are on ground zero for the very concept of the gladiator games that would come to define an empire. What makes this site so breathtaking isn't just its age, but its raw, unadulterated atmosphere. Unlike the Colosseum, which was built up with complex underground chambers, Pompeii's arena is a stark, elliptical bowl. You can stand in the center and see everything: the grassy banks where 20,000 spectators once sat, the two main entrance tunnels, and the looming, silent presence of Mount Vesuvius in the distance. The history here is palpable and violent. This was the site of the infamous "Riot of 59 AD," a bloody brawl between the fans of Pompeii and the rival town of Nuceria that grew so deadly the Emperor Nero banned all games here for ten years. You can still see the tunnels where gladiators and wild animals would have entered, and it’s impossible not to feel a chill. This was a place of celebrity, bloodsport, and mass hysteria. Yet, this arena also has a second, haunting cultural life. In 1971, the rock band Pink Floyd set up their equipment in this empty stadium and recorded Live at Pompeii. They played to an audience of none, their psychedelic music echoing off the same stones that once absorbed the shouts of the crowd. This event forever layered a modern, melancholic soul onto the ancient stones. The Experience: Visiting the amphitheater is a profound experience. Because it’s located at the far end of the Pompeii complex, it is often less crowded than the Forum. You can walk the perimeter of the upper seats or stand alone in the vast, grassy arena. The quiet is overwhelming. You are left to fill the silence with your own imagination—the clash of swords, the cries of the crowd, or the ethereal chords of "Echoes." Verdict: The Amphitheater of Pompeii is an absolute, must-see highlight of the entire archaeological park. It is a powerful, primal, and surprisingly moving place. It is not just a ruin; it’s a stage where you can feel the thunderous, deafening echo of history—both ancient and modern—all at once.

The term amphitheatre is literally defined as "the space for the spectators that runs all round the arena". The commemorative inscription attributes its construction to the highest officials in Pompeii, Caius Quintus Valgus and Marcus Portius, who also built the Odeion shortly after the town had acquired the status of a Roman colony.The Pompeian Amphitheatre is classed as the oldest of all existing buildings of this kind. To allow easy access, it was built in an area on the outskirts of the town with comparatively few buildings and it was inserted into a corner formed by the town walls in order to make use of the existing embankments on two of its sides. About 20,000 people could be seated in its three tiers and would attend bloody shows performed by gladiators and wild animals.No shows were held in the amphitheatre in the winter months and in the warmest period of the year. In summer, a canopy of dark flax material was fitted above the seats to protect the audience from the burning sun and this was advertised in the notices announcing the shows. The canopy was supported on wooden poles inserted into stone rings fixed to the walls on the upper landings of the stairways. A number of external stairways led to the upper tiers (summa Cavea) which formed the top part of the structure. From a passageway running parallel to the perimeter of the arena, and from here over several stairways, the spectators could reach the middle and lower tiers (ima Cavea and media Cavea). Carts would enter the amphitheatre through two corridors which led to the slightly flattened ends of the arena directly from outside. The wild animals used for the shows entered the arena through a narrow passage in the middle of the arena.

You have to visit Pompeii to appreciate the area. You really need all day. Guided in the morning then free to roam in the afternoon. Very busy but so much to see. Visit the brothel early to avoid the crowds 😅.

This is an experiment worth doing and visiting . The story behind Pomeii and the history of it takes you back in time. You need full day plan for it. The village is massive, and it has endless places to visit, see and inquire.

Amazingly well preserved and gives a glimpse into a Roman city at the height of the Roman empire. Get a guide and but tickets in advance. It'll save you a lot of time. Willie was our guide in Pompeii. He was very funny and kept on making jokes. He was entertaining. We did skip the lines to the She Wolf exhibit because the crowd was too big. We didn't lose anyone in our group of 25. Yay! We only had 90 minutes to explore Pompei with a guide. I think we really needed at least twice that length of time but you know how it goes. Got places to go and things to do! There's a small gift shop at the entrance/exit as well as a cafe for drinks. Clean restrooms are available at entrance and another one near an amphitheatre inside.

I have a separate review of the ruins, but since we have this business for the Parco Archeologico, I'll stick to the business end of things here. The park is quite organized and is definitely set up to take money. The entrance area has turnstiles and ticket vendors. Inside is a gift shop with artifacts and replicas (no original stuff from Pompeii itself!), postcards and such. A huge jewelry shop has the only clean bathroom outside, down a flight of stairs. It is about as far from handicapped accessible as you can get. Steps, cobblestones, "pedestrian bridges" and such as little more than stone walkways. Someone who is mobility challenged would have trouble and a wheelchair looked to be simply impossible. [Review 19244 overall - 392 in Italy - 214 of 2023.]

Buried in ash. Frozen in time. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 79 AD. The eruption that changed the course of Pompeii, and the surrounding cities, lasted for two days. First, the residents were pummeled with pumice rain (lapilli). The lucky survivors were able to escape in this phase. The following day, the lava flows buried entire cities under the molten lava. The remaining population died instantly and the community was lost buried and frozen in time for centuries. Although random discoveries and looting occurred sporadically, major excavations did not occur until 1763. The following year Karl Weber started the first scientific excavations. Today, it is so interesting to explore the ruins that are studied in history. The Temple of Apollo. The Basilica. The Theater. The Forum. Stepping stones in the road. Mount Vesuvius in the distance. The Pompeii Antiquarium is a good place to start. So sad to see so many men, women, children, horses and dogs frozen in time as they met instant death. The frescoes recovered were well preserved by the molten lava and ash. Interesting to learn about daily life with the items that were left behind. So informative to explore a large villa. Many wealthy residents lived in Pompeii. At the entry, there was a pool to collect fresh water. The rooms have mosaics to delineate the floor on each room. The views must have been stunning for the family that lived here almost 2,000 years ago. Buy a timed ticket on line to skip the line. We met our guide, Viviana, at the entry. I would definitely recommend hiring a guide as that is the best way to explore and understand the ruins at Pompeii. Wear comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses and a hat and bring plenty of water.

Very nice museum with brunch of interesting interactive stuff. After walking at the site. I take a break going to this museum and see lots of entertainment and great presentations about Pomeii.

We were on a tour so we had a professional guide for the day. I am so glad we did as we were able to got to the head of the line and walk right in.I strongly suggest if you can get a guide or join a group it is so well worth it. You will have a much better understanding of the history of this enchanting place. This is one of the most unusual and awesome places I have ever visited. I walked around the entire place with my mouth hanging open at what I was introduced to, a place that was bustling with people and activity hundreds of years ago. It was wiped out in jus a short time and everyone who was enjoying their day were buried under tons of ruble and ash. If you intend to go here some day remember to bring very comfortable and supportive walking shoes. Most of the pathways you walk on are cobblestone and are most difficult especially when it is very crowded. You will enjoy it so much.

Oh my goodness it's so beautiful, and we had a great tour guide his name is Tony. He shared that his great grandfather, his father, and himself have all studied the history at Pompeii and have worked here for generations. He has a great sense of nerdy humor. He walked us through the ruin which I'll attach photos. It was great! Loved the history and ability to do the walkthrough. I recommend bringing good comfortable gym shoes since there is lose gravel and dirt. A hat and sunglasses if coming in their summer months.. sunblock too. Also they do allow bringing water when in a group not sure beforehand. We saw a couple of people that had fainted to make sure to stay hydrated. All in all loved the experience would love to come back.

Exploring Pompeii has been a long-awaited bucket list experience that I am happy to finally be able to check off! We ordered tickets in advance and were able to pick them up and get through our entrance without any long lines. It was fascinating to see the remarkably preserved remnants of the ancient city. It was unforgettable to see history frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. The well-preserved buildings and artifacts painted a vivid image of how the city once was. This experience left me with a profound appreciation for the fragility of human civilization and the conservation of history. You could spend an entire day walking through the park and still not have enough time to see or learn everything Pompeii has to offer. The museum and gift shop were great additions to see too! My visit to Pompeii's archeological park was an immersive experience that I will never forget! I am eager to return and delve even deeper into its fascinating history the next time I find myself in southern Italy.

An Ancient Roman city very close to Naple and Sorrento. It is an UNESCO heritage site for the world. The entire city was bury under the volcanic ash. It is sad story that people are bury 12 feet to 20 feet of volcanic ash. Because is was so hot, many item was preserved as the life of Pompeii. The crystal like frozen in time show the details of the early like. If you cannot take the body how it look like, probably not a good ideal visit the ash body site. They do have the building well preserved and some is restored to previous glory. Be prepared to walk in the hot day. They require some walking. There is plenty of site to visit. Museum at the end of exit. The best part is located at the exit with detail and civilize life. Pompeii was a big city for Roman. Currently most of the building in Pompeii is build on top of the volcanic ash. It is stable.

What an experience. Fiance and I got up early and got in a bus and came here from napoli. We visited on a Tuesday in October and it wasn't too busy and weather was fantastic. You can literally spend hours here going through all the streets and peaking at some old houses and learning about life before the eruption. A must visit if you're ever visiting napoli or the amalfi coast.

lovely place to see some history. in the central area you can see mt visuvius in clear view. However, you do have to purchase a separate guide either paper or audio to learn more about this place as they are not clearly labeled. It was also under construction on some areas though when we visited. the map for the area they give you can also be confusing and if you are here for the bodies....well they are only on certain areas. Pro they do have free toilets and a small food court where you can either do pizza, chicken, salad,lasagna or some bread and coffee. Again, this is hidden. i.e. See that broken horse statue in the central area? go across pass the vases display and into a small alleyway on the left. Best way is to eat before or after entering the park. the good news is they do have water fountain and baby stations all around so atleast you wont be dehydrated.

Ever since I was a small boy (and avid reader and dreamer) I imagined visiting Pompeii. When older and engaged in my quest to visit fifty countries, I kind of crossed Pompeii off my to do list based upon all the negative comments: too crowded, couldn't see much besides the back of people's heads, and too touristy. But on my last visit to Italy in November, off we went snd we were so glad we did. We spent a full five hours there, visited most of the ruins sections, and learned and saw so much. I think it was even better than I imagined as a child. It wasn't too crowded, the signage was informative and helpful, and it was interesting seeing all the archaeological work still being done. And we got great souvenirs from the only park approved artist who was selling tiled he had made duplicating ones found at the site decorating homes, villas and temples. He gladly showed us where to see the originals and educated us on their meaning and history. It was a beautiful fall day and I think that'd the trick to our great experience: visit when it isn't summer and filled with tourists. You see more in less time snd enjoy yourself more.

I loved the time we spent here. It is such a well preserved site, work continues and they are protecting it. It was very interesting and educational which I enjoy. We came from off a cruise ship and had a limited amount of time. When we arrived we were met by someone renting these little boxes that you could put in your location by a number and it would tell you about that stop. It was a neat idea but we found that we just enjoyed exploring more. I would advise just one person per group get one. We rented 5 which was a waste because you still have to pay to get in. It is well worth visiting and I will go back if I'm ever in the area. We didn't even get to see it all in the few hours we had.