In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted in a devastating fashion. While lava quickly engulfed hillside villages, the effects of the volcanic eruptions came upon Pompeii slowly. First a dull, ominous cloud grew larger and nearer, and then ash, pumice and hot stones began to fall from the sky.
A letter from Pliny the Younger, nephew of a Roman statesman, provides an actual eyewitness account of the events leading up to the destruction of Pompeii, so historians have information on people's reactions to the eruption in addition to archaeological findings. According to "National Geographic," Pompeii is the longest continually excavated site in the world. Viewing Pompeii today is like capturing a moment frozen in time from nearly 2,000 years ago.
If possible, arrange your tour before arriving in Pompeii. As soon as you arrive in the area, you'll start to receive offers from guides. However, only official guides licensed by the region of Campania can lead tours of the site. All licensed tour operators wear a shield-shaped badge, and you should ask to see a guide's license before agreeing to a tour.
Most official guides have name badges with small country flags indicating the languages they speak. It is common to see guides with eight or ten flags on their badges, and the best guides are extremely fluent in all languages they list. Since the late 1990s, however, the standards for guide licenses have been relaxed.
Prices for tours do not include admission into the archeological site. A nominal entrance fee into Pompeii itself varies for adults and EU citizens, while children under 18 get in for free.
Tours prices consist of a base rate with occasional additional charges per person, though these are typically only a few Euros per visitor. There is no set base price, but the cost is usually around 100 Euros. You will often be quoted a much higher rate initially. If there are a lot of guides available, you can haggle down the rate.
Price fluctuates according to season and availability of guides. The park is overrun in summer months.
Before you set out on your tour, discuss with your guide which attractions you would like to visit. Certain major sites, such as the forum, temple of Apollo and theater are conveniently located near Porta Marina, the main entrance.
The Villa of Mysteries is outside the city walls, at the opposite side of the site from the amphitheater, so it can be difficult to fit both in one tour. Interior frescoes, courtyards of wealthy citizens and ancient graffiti can easily be found on any of the major roads at the site.
Depending on when you visit, large patches of commercial and residential structures may be closed for upkeep or to prevent erosion of the ruins.
