The Rise, Fall, and Rediscovery of Pompeii: An Audio Guide with Context

Once a thriving city, Pompeii was frozen in time when, in October 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted after centuries of rest, burying the city in layers of ash, pumice, and volcanic matter. On this walking tour with Context Travel expert Roberta Meomartini, you‘ll learn about the perfectly preserved city’s history and its former inhabitants.

Your journey through the UNESCO World Heritage Site starts at Porta Marina, one of the city‘s entrances, where Roberta will paint a picture of what life was like before the eruption. On your way to the Foro di Pompei (Pompeii Forum), once the center of everyday life, you‘ll see three stepping stones which kept Romans’ feet out of the rainwater and animal waste that sometimes filled the streets.

As you make your way through the city, you‘ll enter richly decorated homes and their impressively preserved mosaics, as well as retail and service buildings. You‘ll see the Building of Eumachia, possibly a former wool market, and find out how urine was used to treat leather. Along the way, you‘ll visit the House of the Faun which once belonged to a wealthy resident, the House of the Vettii which belonged to freed slaves, and one of the old public bathhouses, Terme Stabiane. You‘ll find out how frescoes once served as ancient advertisements, depicting loaves of bread, fish, and chicken. As you make your way to Quadriporticus of the theaters, a monumental structure and gathering spot where our tour ends, you‘ll hear the riveting tale of Pompeii‘s rise, fall, and rediscovery.
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On this 2-hour Pompeii tour, you‘ll:

• Explore Santuario di Apollo (the Sanctuary of Apollo), the oldest place of worship in Pompeii which was rebuilt and redecorated over the centuries in different architectural styles, including Greek and Roman
• Admire the Basilica Pompeiana and spot some of the remaining red paint that once decorated its walls
• Visit the food market and social center of Pompeii, the Macellum, to discover mosaics, richly decorated homes, and the survival of carbonized loaves of bread
• Relive the moment citizens were woken up by the volcanic eruption, thanks to casts that have helped archaeologists capture their final moments
• Decode the meaning behind the phallic symbols found around Pompeii, and find out how they became good luck charms over time
• Hear about how Pompeians enjoyed hot water over 2,000 years ago
• Venture into Lupanare di Pompei, an ancient brothel adorned with frescoes that mention several Greek and Oriental prostitutes, along with intriguing comments from customers
• Discover the Romans‘ love for open-air theaters, culture, and entertainment, at Teatro Piccolo (the small theater) where poetry readings and plays took place, and Teatro Grande (the large theater) which hosted gladiator spectacles
• Pop into one of the over 30 ancient bakeries and learn how carbonized loaves of bread survived the volcano
• See Thermopolium, a fast-food restaurant, and gain insight into daily life in ancient Pompeii

By the end of this unforgettable tour that peels back the layers of Pompeii’s past, you‘ll have a better understanding of the vibrant, ancient city frozen in time.

Please Note: This tour doesn't include entry into Pompeii. Buy your entry tickets online here.