Ancient city of southern Italy, in the southeast of Naples. Founded in the sixth or early fifth century B.C., it was an important Roman colony.
Pompeii holds an intense fascination for visitors today. Following the eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 AD, Pompeii lay buried and forgotten for hundreds of years and the excavations begun in the 18th Century are still being carried out today. You can see the past prosperity of the town in the Roman villas, bathhouses and temples which have been unearthed. Even an amphitheatre has been found.