In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered Pompeii, a bustling city of about 12,000 people, with about 20 feet of volcanic rock, ash and debris. It would be centuries before the city was once again uncovered.
Today, the Archeological site of Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, with 2.5 million people visiting every year. The site covers 660,000 square meters, about three quarters of which has been excavated. I was lucky enough to visit Pompeii during a trip to Italy in September, 2023. While I only was able to see a small portion of the city, it was almost surreal to be standing in the middle of an ancient Roman city. I hope to go back in the future and explore more of the site.Â