Witnessing History Firsthand
Growing up in the United States I remember learning about Pompeii in history class though it always seemed like such a distant memory from another land it was hard to put the tragedy into perspective.
I never would’ve thought I’d be doing a study abroad semester so close to the archeology site, so it is an obvious trip to make in order to see the historical impact of the preserved city in person.
Exploring Pompeii: A Historical Immersion Near Sorrento
I took the train from Sorrento to Pompeii with my friends from Sant’Anna Institute which took about 40 minutes, and the site entrance is only a few minutes from the station upon arrival.
The tickets were 18,00€ plus the 8,00€ audio tour we purchased for historical information.
Pompeii Through My Eyes: A Visit to the Archeological Marvel
I was immediately shocked by how preserved the city was, not just architecturally but I could still see the brushstrokes on the many frescoes painted on the walls in the homes.
The frescoes lined the walls like wallpaper, and it was so moving to see how much effort was put into each detail just to sit under ash and pumice for centuries.
Walking through some of the sites archeologists were brushing away at the tiles in the floor and still digging through the buried city.
I had no idea that Pompeii was still an active excavation site, and it makes me wonder how much more could still be unearthed!
This is why a city as big as Pompeii was able to go unnoticed from 19 AD to the 16th century when archeologist Domenico Fontana discovered it.
This is also the reason for the impeccable preservation as the first things to come from Vesuvius during the eruption were clouds of ash and layers of pumice that were then covered with a layer of lava.
Experiencing History in Person
Visiting Pompeii as a student from the United States was especially impactful as it shows more than a major historical event and archeology site, but also a glimpse into Roman culture.
We were able to see how people in this time lived including the insides of their homes, their taverns, amphitheaters, arenas, and the artifacts left behind from their daily activities.
Seeing the casts of the people from the city who were still sleeping during the eruption left me with chills down my spine, but it is still very impressive that we are even able to see such things.
A Study Abroad Adventure
After visiting Pompeii, I feel even more grateful to be living near such a world-renowned site as well as touched by the history that this land holds.
To think that Mt Vesuvius is still active and will once again wreak havoc again is devastating and reminds me how thankful I am to be experiencing life in the beautiful and historic Sorrento-Naples region.
Ciao,
Emma