First time in Pompeii? Have you never visited the most important archaeological site in the world and are you looking for advice on what to see in Pompeii in one day, so you don’t get lost among streets and maps?
Then you’ve come to the right place!
Although the ideal way to really enjoy Pompeii, understand its history, and appreciate it from all points of view would be to visit it with an expert tour guide. The smallest details, even those that seem irrelevant to you, those that you would not normally notice on a solo visit, will take on a different meaning when heard from someone who knows those places perfectly.
Furthermore, visiting Pompeii in one day requires a lot of energy and special attention. The archaeological site is vast (about 60 hectares), and if you don’t want to waste time walking among completely destroyed places and closed houses, you can choose to be guided by an expert.
Why visit Pompeii
Pompeii is one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world. It was completely buried during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, which froze it in time, preserving buildings, streets, frescoes, and everyday objects in an extraordinary way.
Walking through its streets is like taking a trip back in time: you can see how the Romans lived 2,000 years ago, literally entering their homes, shops, and temples.
You can understand their habits. In short, Pompeii is a city that speaks, that tells a story. Thanks to its perfect state of preservation, it manages to recount everything that the Pompeians left us.
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What to see in Pompeii in one day
If your trip to Pompeii lasts less than a day, don’t worry, it’s enough time to see the main sights of this ancient city. First of all, in order to plan your itinerary, it is essential to understand which entrance you will use to enter the park.
In Pompeii, there are three different entrances: one from Piazza Anfiteatro, one from Porta Marina Superiore, and one from Piazza Esedra.
Entrance from Piazza Anfiteatro, what to visit
The entrance from Piazza Anfiteatro allows you to admire the fantastic gallery created by the park, which displays over 20 casts of people made by Giuseppe Fiorelli.
But you will not only be able to see the amphitheater built in Roman times, which boasts the distinction of being one of the best preserved in the world, despite having been completely submerged during an eruption.
The large gymnasium, where exhibitions recounting the history of Pompeii are periodically held. Here, charred remains of bread, nuts, legumes, and much more are on display.
The domus of Giulia Felice, a wealthy woman from Pompeii, who became rich when Pompeii was hit by the violent earthquake of 62. In fact, Giulia Felice, a great businesswoman, rented her large villa to those who had been left homeless, becoming one of the richest women in the city.
Walking along Via della Abbondanza, you can admire the House of Venus in the Shell, famous for its fresco depicting Venus in a shell in the middle of the sea. The House of Loreio Tiburtino, the House of the Orchard, and the House of Achilles’ Lararium. Taking a detour down some side streets, you will find the Garden of the Fugitives and the House of the Ship Europa.
But that’s not all: along Via dell’Abbondanza, you can also see the famous election posters that covered the city’s busiest street.
The thermopolium of Vetuzio Placido, one of the most famous. Notches were found on the counter, used to check whether the coins used to pay the owner were real or fake.
And if you want to take a break, you can climb up to the Casina dell’Aquila, an 18th-century church offering breathtaking views of the ancient city of Pompeii.
These are just some of the things you can see in Pompeii in a day, starting from Piazza Anfiteatro.
Entrance from Porta Marina Superiore or Piazza Esedra
On the other hand, if for convenience you want to enter from Porta Marina Superiore or Piazza Esedra, I recommend that you plan exactly which places you want to visit. At this point, the streets intertwine and it is very easy to lose your bearings. Here you can also see many of the most famous sites, such as:
Forum, Pompeii’s main square, used as a place of worship, commerce, and electoral propaganda. The most important public buildings were located around it, such as the Temple of Jupiter, the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Basilica, and the Macellum.
The perfectly preserved baths of the forum, divided into male and female sections, where 500 lanterns were found that illuminated the corridor leading to the men’s baths. Here you can admire frescoes, telamons, and three large rooms divided into cold, hot, and warm baths.
The House of the Faun, famous for the statuette depicting a dancing satyr found in the center of the impluvium, now only on display as a copy. And the large floor mosaic found in the exedra depicting the Battle of Issus between Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius.
The House of the Vetti is a beautiful, truly luxurious residence that still preserves numerous wall frescoes depicting mythological scenes. Among the best known is the fresco of Priapus weighing his enormous phallus on a scale.
The House of the Golden Cupids probably belonged to a family related to Poppea, Nero’s wife. It is famous for its magnificent peristyle and the lararium, where the main deities were displayed. There is also a sacellum dedicated to the worship of Egyptian deities, featuring Osiris, Serapis, and the dog-headed god Anubis.
The House of the Small Fountain, simple in style but precious for the fountain found in the inner courtyard of the house, adorned with mosaics and seashells. All around is a riot of color thanks to the large frescoes that fill the walls.
What else to visit in Pompeii in one day
The Villa dei Misteri is a must-see when visiting Pompeii. It is one of the most famous and beautiful suburban villas ever excavated in an ancient city. It is rich in frescoes, including the one found in the triclinium of the house that gives the villa its name.
Visiting Pompeii in one day also allows you to see the House of Menander, the House of the Ceii, and the House of the Dioscuri. In short, as you will have understood, there is no shortage of things to admire in Pompeii in one day. In fact, a whole day would probably not be enough to visit it all.
If you don’t just want to stop and admire these places, but really want to get to know them, I recommend booking a guided tour. You can choose between a 2-hour or 5-hour tour, depending on your needs and the time you have available.
