There are two mind-blowing cities in Italy that are veiled with the spirit of mystery and tragedy. Yes, they are the 2 ancient cities of Naples and Pompeii. Yes, you have guessed what caused the tragedy, too; it’s the almighty Mount Vesuvius.
These 2 cities have always been associated with the power of the destructive volcano, which has served as an inspiration for the movie “Pompeii” (2014) and a number of mythological stories. Before you decide to go on or not, know that it’s worth giving up 5 minutes of your time to the story of these legendary cities.
The Story of Vesuvius
The historical eruption of Mount Vesuvius took place in 79 AD. The thermal energy released during the tragedy was hundreds of thousands time more than the Hiroshima bombing. As a result, around 16.000 people died and were buried under the burning lava. The cities of Naples and Herculaneum were entirely destroyed.
Naples
Naples is located in Southern Italy, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Moreover, some suburbs of the city lay directly on the mountain. As the volcano is still active (and quite dangerous), this fact poses yet another death threat to many of its residents. The most important attraction of Naples is the National Archaeological Museum, which contains mind-blowing exhibitions of antiques, frescoes, ruins, and much more. This is where the ruins of Pompeii were presented to the public after being unearthed.
Naples serves as a great introductory gateway to Pompeii; it tells you the story, shows a nice Italian city before the eruption, before you step into the ruins.
Naples is also the best way to get prepared for the long Pompeii tour. Gather up a hat, light clothing, sunscreen, a couple of water bottles, and a small snack. This much should be enough unless you have additional special needs.
Pompeii
The story and the description of the Vesuvius eruption on Pompeii has reached us thanks to Pliny, a 18-year-old boy, whose letter remains a valuable source. Read this letter before travelling to Pompeii, as you’ll be filled with the ultimate horror and panic when seeing the ruins of the city and the remnants of its residence after his testimony.
The burning lava and the immense levels of heat have paused the time in Pompeii forever. The building walls, items of daily use, and even the frescoes are preserved perfectly.
The burnt bodies of ancient Pompeii citizens are on display today. You can clearly observe their appearance, the looks of horror on their faces as they saw the dark cloud of ashes approaching fiercely, the pose they took to encounter death, and much more. Some of them hold their loved ones, others are simply bundled up in fear. You can even see a few dogs in very strange positions.
This is the small, but very impressive piece that makes these cities very special. If you’re a fan of the ancient world, with its rich history, culture, and tragedies, you will love the 2 sister cities even when it’s too hot to be out in the ruins.
Now, did you enjoy those 5 minutes of information? If yes, then it’s definitely worth giving up a week or two to travel to the best sites of Southern Italy. Visit these wonderful cities, while they are standing still … Mount Vesuvius might not be in a good mood tomorrow.
