The Stillness of Pompeii: A Personal Awakening
Like many travelers, I grew up hearing the stories of Pompeii and thought I understood what to expect. I imagined a few well-preserved ruins and a bit of history. But standing there, just after 10:00 AM, that casual curiosity turned into a profound sense of awe. When you realize the site spans nearly 170 acres—a city once home to 11,000 souls—it hits you differently. So much of this world is still waiting beneath the earth to be discovered.
It’s one thing to read about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.; it’s another to stand where time simply stopped. In a single, terrifying afternoon, an entire society was silenced by ash and stone. It took 1,600 years for these streets to see the light of day again, and walking them now feels like a rare privilege.
We spent four hours exploring, walking over six kilometers of ancient stone. Even then, we only saw about a quarter of what is there. What struck me most wasn't just the grand amphitheaters, but the small, human details that remain.
You can see the sophisticated design of their public baths—the clear ancestors of the spas we enjoy today—and the wall paintings that remain so vivid they look as if they were painted last year.
We chose Hotel Habita79 to be close enough to beat the morning rush. Seeing the ruins in the morning light before the crowds arrived made the experience feel much more personal and atmospheric.
Seeing the petrified remains of those who lived here is a heavy experience. Having a peaceful place to return to afterward was essential for processing the weight of history we felt in the streets.
Visiting in December was a wonderful decision. The air was crisp, and the site wasn't overwhelmed by tourists. If you plan to visit, Pompeii deserves your time and a quiet mind to truly grasp the scale of the discovery.