Pompeii
The first settlements in Pompeii date back to the 8th century B.C., but they only merged together in the 6th and gained importance as a city through the following centuries, when it fell under control of the Romans. In the year 62 A.D., a violent earthquake caused severe damages, which are also depicted in some frescoes. The city was still recovering and reconstructing in the year 79 when, one morning, the Vesuvius volcano decided to put an end to it, with an explosive eruption that, within the following morning, buried everything under six meters of volcanic materials. Of the several thousands of inhabitants, more than one thousand died from this catastrophe, many under the collapsed buildings, others reached by the pyroclastic flow. The city wasn't rebuilt, and the territory was abandoned for the following centuries; the modern city was built much later, at the end of the 19th century, and became an independent municipality in the following one.
From the disaster of past ages, comes today's fame of Pompeii: archaeological excavations brought back to life most of the ancient city, which is now a huge open air museum, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and one of the most visited in Italy, with millions of visitors every year. Strolling through its cobblestone streets, you can reach the Forum, the Temple of Apollo, the amphitheatre, the House of the Faun, but also see the houses of regular inhabitants, and many other landmarks: not easy to fit them all in a single day! The 5 km "Pompei Bike" route allows to enjoy the ruins while coasting the city walls, from Amphitheatre Square to the Villa of the Mysteries.
Another similar site, slightly less famous and visited because not as huge and impressive as Pompeii, is Herculaneum, closer to Naples. While both are worth a visit, unless you are archaeology enthusiasts, choosing just one is normally enough to get a good idea, as they are similar experiences, and you might go for the latter if you are coming from Naples and have less time available.
Should you need delivery and/or pick up of a bike in Pompeii, we can offer it at a 40 € fee one way, 70 € both ways; however, if you need one to explore the town, we recommend renting a cheaper city bike locally, to both save money, and be able to lock it and access pedestrian areas without worrying too much for an expensive model you'd rather not leave unattended.
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