It's Pompeii and Sorrento on Day 9
We're heading for the Unesco Site Pompeii. We are fortunate to have had Susanna arrange for a university professor guide to conduct our tour. After Pompeii and the train ride to Sorrento there was a gelato demonstration. In the evening we had dinner at private home.
High above the sea Salvo waits for us to accomplish a transfer and is ready to drive on a bus friendly road
Pompeii was established about the 6th century B.C. It endured several conquests and in the 4th century Punic War supported Rome. In 80 B.C. it became a Roman colony a commerce center and major sea port. In 79 A.D. earthquakes caused 20,000 residents to flee from Pompeii. About 2000 residents who remained in Pompeii experienced the Vesuvius 18 hour eruption, were gassed and buried in ash and volcanic debris freezing their bodies in the position of their anguished final moments of life. Lost until 1700's when Archaeologists made a serious study of the well preserved bodies, art, artifacts, structures, and city organization. They found an elaborate lead pipe plumbing system with gravity powered water that even flush the streets clean. White stone flakes remain on pavers that marked the way at night under moonlight. In the water flooded streets stepping stones were spaced wide enough for chariot wheels to pass between and for a pedestrians to cross over the flooded streets. Vertical stones on roads blocked chariots and created pedestrian only zones. The town was organization with the owners residence next to their place of business. The classes of people were mixed together, wealthy with middle class. Massive arches lined the main forum gathering area.
The air and moisture tight volcanic debris preserved many of the everyday items, art and artifacts, which were pilfered by a local Naples king and now reside in the Naples National Museum of Archaeology.
The air and moisture tight volcanic debris preserved many of the everyday items, art and artifacts, which were pilfered by a local Naples king and now reside in the Naples National Museum of Archaeology.
Pompeii, our local guide suggested that the rolling greens hills around Pompeii looked like as nature took over this site for hundreds of years. There is a strong possibility that there still remains a good amount of area to be explored for more discoveries from the Vesuvius eruption. We headed out with our umbrellas into pouring rain for our very interesting tour.
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A great show at the gelato demonstration in Sorrento. This was fun! A really nice effort by the owner to demonstrate the production of our favorite Italian treat, gelato. Our only disappointment: to return twice during our visit and find his store closed.
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Our private residence visit and an up close enjoyable visit with family members who presented us a masterful home cooked dinner .
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