The ancient Pompeii is situated at the slope of the Vesuvio and it started with a little installation of the VI century b.C. It was first subjected by the Etrurians, then by the Cumans, in 89 b.C. it became a Roman colony and from that moment on, it had a period of splendour and prosperity.

In 79 a.d., on August the 24th, the terrible eruption of the Vesuvius made all the fortunes of Pompeii end. The town, that because of the tragical irony of fate had been developed on a lava flow erupted from the volcan few centuries before, was submerged by a huge cloud of poison gas, ashes, lapilli and incandescent stones. The whole town and all its inhabitants were completely buried by a 7 metres thick rubble avalanche.

The town, completely cancelled by the rage of the volcan, rested buried till 1748, when started the first excavations. The archeological researches, still in progress, have brought to light more than sixty hectares of the area belonging to the town at the moment of the catastrophe.

Pompeii was a popolous town, full of inns, taverns, shops, post-stages, private houses and big public monuments, such as some temples, the thermal resort, the theatres, the covered market, the buildings of the forum. Inside the National Archeological Museum in Naples you can see thousands of founds, frescos, mosaics, sculptures and precious objects coming from the luxuries residences.