Two thousand years ago Mount Vesuvius had a catastrophic eruption. Thousands of lives were lost, but under the ash and pumice, the town of Pompeii became one of the most well-preserved sites in history. I’ve been learning about Pompeii and the disaster that preserved it since elementary school, but seeing it in person was unreal.
First we drove to Mount Vesuvius and were able to hike all the way to the top. The view was incredible and it was even cold enough for us to see the steam coming out of the crater, such a neat experience. 
Next we headed down to Pompeii, where we toured the ruins. It was overwhelming at first; I had no idea how big the town actually was! Luckily we had an amazing tour guide who helped us a lot.
The town of Pompeii has such an amazing story to tell about the height of the Roman Empire. It was a lively place to live and a pretty significant trading hub, with merchants from all over the world coming in and out. As we walked around the town, I couldn’t believe how preserved everything still was. Some of the houses still had mosaics and frescoes in almost perfect condition on the floors and walls. The brothel still had the original stone beds. Bodies of the citizens were preserved in the same position they had died in over 2,000 years ago.
As I walked around the ruins, I couldn’t help but get chills every once in a while. It was a strange feeling walking around their homes, businesses and restaurants, knowing so many people died from the disaster. From almost everywhere in the town you could see Mount Vesuvius in the distance, and as beautiful as it was, it had an ominous look to it. 
All in all though, Pompeii was absolutely my favorite place in Italy so far. You really can’t get that experience anywhere else.
Location: Pompeii, Italy
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