When people visit Pompeii, they want to know if they can stay in the ancient city or do they need to stay nearby the Pompeii area. In other words, if they were still people who were living and working in Pompeii.
No one lives in the Ancient Roman city of Pompeii, Italy. The deserted town was buried under volcanic ash and pumice for hundreds of years. Pompeii is a UNESCO World Hertiage site. If you are planning to visit Pompeii, there are many places in the area where you can stay to visit the ancient city.
Table of Contents
- Pompeii Is An Area That Has Long Been Deserted
- What Is The Correct Name – Pompeii Or Pompei?
- Related Questions
Pompeii Is An Area That Has Long Been Deserted
Pompeii was an ancient Roman city buried under volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Pompeii was buried along with the area of Herculaneum and some smaller surrounding towns.
The volcanic ash came without warning and quickly burned the city under four to six meters of volcanic ash and pumice. So quick was the eruption that many of these cities’ inhabitants did not have time to leave their homes and survive but instead died right in their homes.
The city was forgotten for a long time, and no one lived in the area. Partly because further eruptions of the volcano would have buried the city and area, adding additional volcanic ashes and pumice.
Excavations of the area did not start until the late 17th century and early 18th century. Over the years, the excavations have continued to slowly uncover this area.
Today, excavation work continues in the area, and new sites continue to be discovered.
To discover more about Pompeii and Roman Art, you can read Why Was The City Of Pompeii Important to Roman Art? by clicking here.
Pompeii Is A UNESCO World Heritage Site
There are still no people living in Pompeii, Italy, but there are communities that surround Pompeii. Pompeii has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO is part of the United Nations.
UNESCO defines a World Heritage Site as:
“World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”
UNESCO
The key to this is that UNESCO has designated Pompeii as an area that needs to be protected. Part of that protection would be from things such as the development of restaurants, hotels, or other buildings to not take place on the property. The goal is to preserve the area so that the Pompeii site’s history, architecture, and culture remain intact.
In 2010 some buildings collapsed in Pompeii; because the area is considered of such historical and cultural significance, UNESCO stepped in to say they would work with the Italian government to find a way to continue to protect the Pompeii cultural site.
The UNESCO said this included the archaeological areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata. UNESCO considers this area to be of such important historical and cultural significance that they will help provide expert advice and conversation to the Italian government so they can continue to restore the Pompeii historical site.
What Is The Correct Name – Pompeii Or Pompei?
It can be confusing as there are two very similar names of cities in this area. Pompeii and Pompei are correct as they are two different cities.
One is spelled as Pompeii, and the other as Pompei. To add to the confusion, they are in the same area but are not in the exact location.
Here are the differences between Pompeii and Pompei:
- Pompeii – Pompeii is the name of the ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You cannot stay in Pompeii as the land and UNESCO protects the area.
- Pompei – Pompei is the spelling for the newer city near the ancient city of Pompeii. Pompei has hotels, shops, and restaurants, so you can stay in Pompei while visiting the ancient Roman town of Pompeii.
Cities Surrounding Pompeii, Italy
Even If you can not stay in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, there are many cities you can stay in in the surrounding areas. These cities should have hotels and other places for you to stay as you plan your trip to the ancient Pompeii.
Here are the major cities in the Pompeii area of Italy and their approximate driving distance from the ancient Roman town of Pompeii.
- Pompei – Pompei, Italy, is the closest city to Pompeii as it is only one Kilometer away.
- Boscotrecase, Italy – It is about 3 to 4 miles or 4 to 6 kilometers from Pompeii.
- Scafati, Italy – It is about 2 to 3 miles or 3 to 4 kilometers from Pompeii.
- Torre Annunziata, Italy – It is about 3 miles or 5 kilometers apart.
- Boscoreale, Italy – It is about 4 miles or 6 kilometers apart.
- Terzigno, Italy – It is about 5 miles or 8 kilometers apart.
- Castellammare di Stabia, Italy – Is about 5 miles or 8 kilometers from Pompeii.
- Poggiomarino, Italy – It is about 11 miles or 17 kilometers from Pompeii.
- Angri, Italy – It is about 6 or 10 kilometers from Pompeii.
- Gragnaro, Italy – Is about 7 miles or 11 kilomters from Pompeii
- San Marzano sul Samo, Italy – 9 miles or 15 kilometers from Pompeii.
- San Giuseppe Vesuviano, Italy – About 7 miles to 12 kilometers.
- Torre del Grecco, Italy – 9 miles or 14 kilometers from Pompeii.
- Pagani, Italy – It is about 8 to 13 kilometers from Pompeii.
- Vico Equense, Italy – About 14 miles or 23 kilometers from Pompeii.
- Naples, Italy – Is about 16 miles or 26 kilometers from Pompeii
As you can see from this list, if you are planning to visit the ancient city of Pompeii, there are many places you can stay while visiting Pompeii. Some are as close as just 1 kilometer away, while others are 16 miles or 26 kilometers away from Pompeii.
At A Bus On A Dusty Road, we talk about everything about travel, life, and ex-pat living. We are all about “Living Life As A Global Citizen.” We explore social, cultural, and economic issues and travel.
We would love to have you be part of our community. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up-to-date by clicking here. If you have any questions, you can contact me, Anita, by clicking here.
Listen to our Podcast called Dusty Roads. You can find it on all major podcast platforms. Try out listening to one of our podcasts by clicking here.
Subscribe to our A Bus On A Dusty Road YouTube Channel filled with great videos and information by clicking here.
Related Questions
What Makes Salt Lake City Worth Visiting? Our Top 5 Reasons
Salt Lake City is centered around Temple Square for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a visitor, there are great things to see at Temple Square. The Great Salt Lake is a fantastic recreation area where you can see wildlife. Salt Lake City and Utah are famous for their majestic mountains and the Great Outdoors. There are museums and theatres you can visit in Salt Lake City.
You can learn more by reading What Makes Salt Lake City Worth Visiting? Our Top 5 Reasons by clicking here.
Was Your Visit To Angkor Wat In Cambodia Worth It? 12 Reasons
Angkor Wat is worth visiting. Even for people who may not be history buffs, I believe that Angkor Wat is still a great place to visit. There are so many reasons why anyone traveling to Cambodia or Southeast Asia should be sure to visit Angkor Wat as part of their trip.
To learn more, you can read our blog on Was Your Visit To Angkor Wat In Cambodia Worth It? 12 Reasons by clicking here.
Is It Safe To Visit Mongolia? Staying Safe While Traveling Mongolia
Mongolia is generally safe to visit, but there are specific safety precautions that you should take when traveling in Mongolia for any traveler. There are areas in the city you should be extra cautious when traveling. Also, if you are out in the countryside, there are safety concerns you need to be aware of.
To learn more, you can read our blog on Is It Safe To Visit Mongolia? Staying Safe While Traveling Mongolia by clicking here.
