Pompeii

In 79AD a volcanic eruption buried the ancient city of Pompeii (Pompei in Italian) and its sister city, Herculaneum, preserving a wealth of information about this once bustling commercial center. One of the most famous archaeological excavations worldwide, Pompeii is also one of Italy’s most visited tourist attractions, drawing nearly 2.5 million visitors each year. It wasn’t until 1748 that archaeologists began to slowly unearth its precious ruins, which were frozen in time under 9 feet of volcanic ash. Today this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers visitors extraordinary insight into life at the height of the Roman Empire.