Pompei between sanctuary and buried Roman streets

Pompei in Italien, known in English as Pompeii, ties the Marian sanctuary and the excavated Roman city of Pompeji together in one compact landscape.

Pompei in Italy sits between the living pilgrimage town and the buried Roman streets of Pompeii, at the southeastern base of Mount Vesuvius in Campania. The modern comune of Pompei grew around the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary in the late nineteenth century, while the ancient city of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of the volcano in 79 CE, leaving an extensive archaeological site beside the town.southeastern base of Mount Vesuvius

A modern town beside an ancient catastrophe

Pompei is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Naples in southern Italy, in the Campania region, lying south of Mount Vesuvius and close to the mouth of the Sarno River.municipality in the Metropolitan City of Naples The town stands slightly inland from the Bay of Naples in a flat valley, between the slopes of Vesuvius to the north and the Lattari mountains to the south.valley crossed by the Sarno river

The ancient city of Pompeii, whose ruins lie within Pompei’s municipal territory, was buried in volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, preserving streets, houses and public buildings under deep layers of debris.buried in volcanic ash in 79 CE Excavations carried out from the eighteenth century onwards revealed an extensive Roman town plan with straight streets laid out in a grid, paved with polygonal stones and lined with houses, workshops and public spaces.streets laid out in a grid

The Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary

The centre of modern Pompei is dominated by the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, a Catholic basilica that serves as cathedral and Marian shrine for the Territorial Prelature of Pompei.Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary The sanctuary was co-founded and commissioned in the late nineteenth century by Bartolo Longo and Countess Mariana di Fusco, whose work in Pompei also extended to charitable institutions for children.Bartolo Longo and his wife the Countess Mariana di Fusco

Construction of the sanctuary began in 1876, and the basilica was consecrated in 1891, giving Pompei a prominent religious landmark with a wide square in front of its façade.consecrated in 1891 Inside, the shrine houses a seventeenth-century canvas associated with the school of Luca Giordano, depicting the Madonna of Pompei, as well as votive offerings and relics linked with the Passion.seventeenth-century canvas of the Madonna of Pompei

Walking through excavated Roman streets

The archaeological park of Pompeii can be reached on foot from central Pompei, where the edge of the excavation reveals long, straight streets flanked by the remains of houses and shops. The Forum, public baths and several villas stand with walls and floors preserved, giving a detailed view of Roman urban life at the time of the eruption in 79 CE.insight into Roman everyday life

During nineteenth-century excavations, archaeologists discovered voids in the ash that contained human remains, and plaster casts were taken to record the forms of inhabitants at the moment they were buried.plaster casts of inhabitants The excavated area shows a complete town plan with intersections, courtyards and garden plots, while areas of the ancient city remain unexcavated beyond the visible zone.

Visiting Pompei: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Pompei lies south-east of Naples in Campania, inland from the Bay of Naples, and is served by railway lines linking it with Naples, Salerno and Sorrento.
• The terrain is generally flat, but the archaeological site of Pompeii involves long walks across stone-paved streets and uneven surfaces.
• The archaeological park sits close to the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, and views from Pompei take in the volcano and the surrounding valley crossed by the Sarno River.
• The official language is Italian and the currency is the euro.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Pompei

Where is Pompei located?

Pompei is in Campania in southern Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, south of Mount Vesuvius and inland from the Bay of Naples.

What should visitors expect on a visit to Pompei?

Visitors encounter a working town framed by the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary and a large archaeological park with excavated Roman streets and buildings.

What makes Pompei distinctive compared with other Italian towns?

Pompei combines a major Marian pilgrimage basilica with the extensively excavated remains of the Roman city of Pompeii, set together beneath the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.