Things to do in Pompeii, Campania: The Best Sights & Landmarks

December 20, 2021 Marianna Hollaway

Pompeii is a Roman town frozen in time, thanks to a devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Explore houses from modest to majestic; see Roman shops, baths and brothels; or apply your high-school Latin to the graffiti that's still visible on some of the walls. End your visit at the Villa of the Mysteries, and try to interpret its amazing, bizarre frescoes—scholars have debated their meaning for years.
Restaurants in Pompeii

1. Forum

Via Villa dei Misteri, 80045 Pompeii Italy
Excellent
72%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,217 reviews

Forum

Reviewed By MalcH - Loughborough, United Kingdom

The focal point of the Pompeii ruins and a great photo spot for the ruins with Vesuvius in the background. Lots of interesting exhibits on the left hand side including some of the plaster casts of those that fell victim to this tragic fate. Best to go early or late as it gets very busy once the site is open. Really gives a feel to how the ancient Romans used to live.

2. Pontificio Santuario della Beata Maria Vergine del Santo Rosario di Pompei

Piazza Bartolo Longo 1, 80045 Pompeii Italy +39 081 857 7379 [email protected] http://www.santuario.it/
Excellent
74%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,865 reviews

Pontificio Santuario della Beata Maria Vergine del Santo Rosario di Pompei

Reviewed By pablucho35 - Savannah, United States

Though the church is beautiful and imposing, what I found most rewarding was visiting the tomb of Blessed Bartolo Longo which is in a chapel accessed through the side of the sanctuary.

3. House of the Vettii

Vicolo dei Vetti, Pompeii Italy http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp
Excellent
57%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 171 reviews

House of the Vettii

4. Villa dei Misteri

Via Villa Dei Misteri 2, 80045 Pompeii Italy +39 081 857 5347 http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp?idSezione=174
Excellent
76%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,125 reviews

Villa dei Misteri

Reviewed By christosorl - Thessaloniki, Greece

The first house that you meet at the pompei is that place.Excellent and beautiful wall paintings in aplace that emit wealth.

5. Casa degli Amorini Dorati

Via dei Vesuvio, Pompeii Italy http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp
Excellent
61%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 72 reviews

Casa degli Amorini Dorati

6. Via delle Tombe

Pompeii Italy
Excellent
40%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 146 reviews

Via delle Tombe

Reviewed By Jo_and_Tom - Anna, United States

What is interesting is that my old high school latin kicked in and I could read some of these tombs. The guide stated this was a very rich area and not everyone could afford a tomb.

7. House of Menander (Casa del Menandro)

Pompeii Italy http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp
Excellent
73%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 181 reviews

House of Menander (Casa del Menandro)

8. Casa del Fauno

Via Villa Dei Misteri 2, 80045 Pompeii Italy http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp
Excellent
65%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 487 reviews

Casa del Fauno

Reviewed By Seeking_True_Quality

The magnificent House of the Faun is located on the Via della Fortuna and it was the only private house that we visited. It is large, one of the largest in Pompeii and occupies the whole block (Insula) 12 of the Regio VI, a whole 3000 square meters! It was built in the II. century BC. We found the main entrance elegant and robust at the same time. Behind the entrance is the lobby (vestibulum) with a copy of a decorative and delicate bronze statue, the dancing Faun. It is in an impluvium, a shallow basin for catching rainwater with a nice, geometrical mosaic, actually an Opus sectile. The original of the statue is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. A second ornamental, geometrical Opus sectile is on the floor a room behind the first atrium. It is made of thin rhombi in three shades, tiled in a hexagonal pattern, creating an effect of 3D cubes, a design very popular in XX. century op-art. Behind that room is the first atrium. a little garden, surrounded by a collonaded porch (a peristyle). We then arrived at the beautiful copy of the famous Alexander Mosaic, on the floor of a room behind the first atrium. The original, also in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, was created around 120 BC and depicts the victory of Alexander the Great over Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Issus in 333 BC. Behind the room with the Alexander Mosaic is second, larger atrium with a garden and a peristyle. We did not go there, instead, we visited the many rooms of this magnificent house.

9. Casa del Poeta Tragico

Pompeii Italy +39 081 857 5111 http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp
Excellent
47%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 178 reviews

Casa del Poeta Tragico

Reviewed By JnVSydney - Greater Sydney, Australia

One of the most beautiful mosaics we saw was a picture of a fierce black dog on a chain with the words Cave Canem - Officially the earliest known "Beware of the Dog" sign (found in the house of the Tragic Poet).

10. Tempio di Giove Capitolino

Via Del Tempio Di Giove, 18, 00186 Pompeii Italy
Excellent
54%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 258 reviews

Tempio di Giove Capitolino

Reviewed By Bodillymill - Helston, United Kingdom

If you have a guide book you can see an artists representation of how the temple and the forum sat together... Its impressive and oddly almost in the same place as the temple of Saturn in the roman forum in Rome. Making me believe that maybe Forums have a basic plan they all adopt!!

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