From Rome to Pompeii: A Journey Through History

After enjoying three private tours during my trip to Italy, I decided to try something different—a group tour. The destination? The ancient city of Pompeii. A private tour would have been way too expensive for this long trip, so the group option made more sense. Luckily, the meeting spot for the tour was very close to my hotel—just a short walk away.

Once we got on the bus, we met our tour guide, Anna. She was full of knowledge and had a warm, motherly personality. But almost right away, we ran into a common group tour problem—people talking while the guide was trying to explain what we were seeing as we left Rome. Anna handled it quickly, but it was clear that not everyone on the tour was there to learn.

This is one of the big differences between private and group tours. In private tours, the experience is more personal and focused. In group tours, you have to deal with people who may not be as interested or respectful of the guide.

During the three-hour drive to Pompeii, Anna told us about the history of Italy. It was fascinating! In Italy, all guides must be licensed, and it takes a lot of education to become one. Anna clearly knew her stuff and wasn’t afraid to gently scold people when they were late or talking during her stories.

Our first stop was Mount Vesuvius, the famous volcano that destroyed Pompeii in 79 A.D. There was a

chance to hike to the top, but I had to skip it. Let’s just say my early-sixties body isn’t in top hiking shape! Even without reaching the summit, the views were amazing, and I was surprised by how hilly and mountainous the area was.

After some time at Mount Vesuvius, we continued on to Pompeii. And let me tell you—it was incredible. Seeing the ruins of a city frozen in time was exciting. Pompeii was buried under ash and rock when Vesuvius erupted, and much of it has stayed the same ever since. Only about 30% of the city has been uncovered so far. Anna told us it could take hundreds of years before it’s fully excavated.

The city was once home to about 20,000 to 30,000 people. As we walked through the ancient streets, I was amazed by how well-organized the city was. The streets were paved with large stones and even had raised sidewalks.

The paved stones in the street were designed to accommodate chariots and animals. You could see the groves from the tires.

What was really interesting was learning that the streets also worked as a sewer system—rainwater and waste would flow down the middle of the road, helping keep the sidewalks cleaner.

Pompeii also had a large main square, called the forum, which was the center of daily life. Around the city, there were places to live, eat, and enjoy

You could almost see the images of people hanging out in the square socializing and conducting business.

entertainment. There were shops, bakeries, homes, and even public bathhouses. One of my favorite parts was visiting the theater, where people would gather to watch plays, including comedies and tragedies.

This theater was utilized as we would a movie theater. Seats lower down were for the wealthy, while the seats towards the top were for “citizens”

It was easy to imagine crowds laughing or crying as they watched the stories unfold on stage.

And of course, we can’t forget about the gladiators. Pompeii had its own gladiator area—one of the oldest in the Roman world—where gladiator battles were held. These fights were a popular form of

The areas under te porch contained rooms where the gladiators would live while the center of the courtyard was where they would train and fight.

entertainment, and people would gather to watch the action. Gladiators were usually slaves or prisoners, but some chose the life for fame and fortune. They trained in a special school near the amphitheater called the ludus gladiatorius. There, they learned how to fight using different weapons and styles.

In the middle of the gladiator quarters was an open courtyard where the men would train and spar with each other. This space was like their practice arena, and it gave them a place to build their strength and skills before fighting in front of a crowd. You can still walk through that area today and imagine the sounds of clashing weapons and shouting trainers pushing the fighters to be their best.

Another eye-opening part of Pompeii’s history is its brothels. Historians have discovered at least 24 different brothels across the city. One of the most well-

The borthel was “full service” with 5 rooms of stone beds.

known is called the Lupanar, which had five small stone rooms with built-in beds. The walls inside were painted with detailed and colorful pictures showing the kinds of services that were offered. These images acted like a menu for visitors who may not have spoken the same language or who couldn’t read. While this part of Pompeii may seem surprising to some, it shows how the city reflected all parts of Roman life—both public and private.

Walking through Pompeii felt like stepping into the past. Even though I once taught Italian history, nothing compares to standing where it actually happened and seeing the everyday life of people who lived almost 2,000 years ago.

The group tour had its ups and downs, but getting to witness such an incredible part of history made it all worth it.