Image by Royal Olive via Flickr By: Levi ReissPompeii and the neighboring city of Herculaneum are truly unique open-air museums. On August 24, 79 A. D. Mount Vesuvius destroyed these two cities within a period of some twelve hours. Thousands of people were killed but the buildings were only slightly damaged. Pompeii is a major tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can see in extraordinary detail the way people lived at the height of the Roman Empire. You might wish to purchase a three-day ticket that allows you to visit five archeological sites: Herculaneum, Pompeii, Oplontis, Stabiae, and Boscoreale. Among the sites to see in Pompeii are the Foro (Forum) once the town's center, the Macellum, a covered meat and fish market, the Basilica, the court of law and economic center, the Anfiteatro (Amphitheater), the baths, and perhaps the brothels. Don't bring the kids to visit the Villa dei Misteri (Villa of the Mysteries). For your convenience we have listed neighborhood hotels in approximate order of cost, starting with the least expensive.
