Naples, Italy Photo Gallery

We took the train from Naples to visit Pompeii. Pompeii was buried under meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. This is the main entrance.

The Temple of Apollo, also known as the Sanctuary of Apollo, is a Roman temple built in 120 BC and dedicated to the Greek and Roman god Apollo

The Temple of Jupiter was a temple in Roman Pompeii, at the north end of its forum.

The Forum was the main square of the city and the center of religious, political, judicial and commercial life.

Part of the Forum.

One of the many cobblestone streets of the city.

Part of an original sidewalk.

It was very interesting looking into what was homes in this once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city.

A bas-relief-So many details to see on the walls.

The House of M. Epidius Rufus opens dramatically onto Via dell’Abbondanza from atop a 1.5m podium, and is accessible via two ramps located at either end of the podium.

The front of the House of M. Epidius Rufus is arranged round a Corinthian atrium, marked out by 16 Doric tuff columns.

This place had beautiful tiled floors.

This area shows how Pompeii has been dug out. Work on excavation started here in 1748.

Another view looking over the excavation site. The ancient city opened to the public in 1874, but work goes on to this day uncovering more things.

The excavation of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background.

Brian and I with Pompeii behind us.

The House of Venus and the Four Gods.

House of the Orchard-Named so because of the paintings of gardens dating from the Augustan period which decorate two rooms.

A tavern or home-Many were 2 stories.

The laundry of Stephanus designed for the washing of dirty laundry and degreasing fabric that had just been threaded.

Remains of a restaurant-They even found money in one of the pots.

Some graffiti of Pompeii.

A kitchen preserved along with pottery jars.

Brian standing at one of the tavern bars.

One of the city fountains.

Another road of the city.

After instantaneous death of the people their bodies remained in the position in which they had been struck with pyroclastic flow, and the solidified ash preserved their imprint.

Pouring a mixture of gypsum and water into the voids , caused by the decomposition of organic substances, it was possible to preserve the volume, shape and position of the body that had been buried within.

These people were in a vineyard when the eruption occurred. It's very sad to see these figures.

Looking towards the amphitheater from the Large Palaestra which was intended for the physical and intellectual training of young men.

The Amphitheatre of Pompeii is one of the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatres, hosting circus shows, animals hunts, and numerous types of battles.

With 35 rows of seats, the amphitheatre could accommodate up to 20,000 people.

Paintings found while excavating.

A ceiling found while excavating.

The vineyard of The House of the Ship Europa, named because of some graffiti of the ship in the house.

More beautiful ruins with interesting tile and brick work.

Part of the House of Meander, one of the city's richest houses, named after the portrait of the Greek dramatist Meander found on one of its walls.

The entrance area to the home-The owner must have been an aristocrat involved in politics.

This house belonged to a high-ranking family, possibly relatives of the wife of Nero.

The wall and floor decorations in this house speak volumes about the owner's taste and lifestyle.

A beautiful room with special tile work.

Painting were all over the walls in this area that was possibly a dining room.

More tile work in this expensive home.

More stunning rooms in this home.

Brian in the Basilica-This was used mostly for commercial transactions and the administration of justice.

Gwen in the Basilica-My face is very red because it was a very hot day!

Looking down columns of the Basilica.

An impressive statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, who played a great role in the history of Italy, in so called Risorgimento national movement, that led to the final unification of Italy. And that's why he was considered as one of Italy's "fathers of the fatherland".

We finished our stay here getting pizza where it was invented, and it was so good!

I guess the priest or bishop is giving us a goodbye blessing.