Europe Day 5: Pompeii

Pompeii was a Roman city buried by volcanic ash in 79AD. It was not until 1500 years later that it was re-discovered.

Tuesday, November 9th - Rome <-> Pompeii
[recommended to bring sun block/glasses for this day as Pompeii offers no shade]
06:15 - Leave hotel. Train ESI 9371 departs 06:45 from Termini to Napoli Centrale, arrive 08:30.
08:30 – At Piazza Garibaldi walk down the steps to the tracks (Napoli Garibaldi Stazione Centrale F.S.) buy (E$7) return tickets on the Circumvesuviana line to Pompei Scavi (villa Misterito).

• Trains at 8:41, 9:08:, 9:11 and take 30 to 40 mins to the destination.
• board in the Sorrento direction (the wrong one will head to Sarno)
• the station before Pompei Scavi is called Torre Annunziata
  do not get off at Pompei Sanctuario station, it’s farther from Pompeii.
• Pompeii train service website - http://www.vesuviana.it

10:00 – Walk 50m to the entrance of Pompeii site (E$11, entrance = Porta Marina) and check what’s new in the Tourist Information Centre for free map.
10:30 - 14:15 - To see the following within the site (see printed Pompeii Map):

House of Vettii - Rich merchants’ home, House of Faun - Another large house
Forum (aka Pompeii Forum or Forum of Pompeii) – The public market place
Theater - Built in hollow of the hill for acoustics with 5,000 seats
Via dei Sepolcri - Long street with worn ruts from carts
Lupanar - An ancient brothel with pornographic frescoes
The Basilica - The most important building and now served as the court house
House of Small Fountain, House of Tragic Poet, House of the Pansa, Temple of Asclepius, Temple of Isis, Doric Temple, Porta Ercolano and Necropolis, House of Sallustio, House of Dioscuri, House of Meleager, House of Apollo, House of Golden Cupids, House of Caecilius lucundus, Central Baths, Bakery and Vicolo Storto, House of Ancient Hunt

[for this day we actually brought our own brunch]
Lunch and tea break – (i) the food near the entrance is not good, try only the fresh juice for E$3; (ii) good panini from the food truck at the end near Porta Marina; (iii) the only restaurant is Zi Caterina – not very good and rather expensive, closed Tuesdays.

14:15 - Leave Pompeii. [We went out the wrong exit and had to run to catch the train.]

• Trains departing 14:48, 15:25 and take 35 minutes to reach Napoli Garibaldi (Stazione Centrale F.S.)
• Board in the Napoli direction

16:00 - Take blue line of Metro (the trains don't look like subway trains but the station is underground. E$2.4 each way) at Piazza Garbardi station, get off at Cavour and walk to Museo station and visit Museo Archeologico Nazionale. (E$6.5, open till 730pm, closed Tuesdays)
[We walked for a long time but could not find the restaurant below. We had some pizza near Stazione Centrale and it was great!]
17:30 - Walk to Sorbillo Gino Pizzeria (Via dei Tribunali 32) for quick and early dinner.
18:15 - Walk to Museo Metro station and go back to Napoli Piazza Garbardi train station -> Napoli Centrale train station for train to Rome.
18:30 - Train departs from Napoli Centrale 18:50, will arrive Rome at 20:00.


See gallery Europe Day 5 - Pompeii