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A once prosperous commercial port almost perfectly preserved by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, Pompeii offers a unique glimpse into the everyday life of the Romans. It's estimated that there were 20,000 inhabitants in the city at the time, However, all but 2,000 unfortunate souls escaped unharmed while Pompeii was left buried by 6 m (19.6 ft) of volcanic ash and pumice.

When excavations began in earnest in 1748, entire villas complete with intricate mosaics and frescoes emerged almost intact. Plaster casts of those who died can be seen frozen in time, the minute details of an individual's life laid bare in this vast open-air museum.

The city is both enormous and popular, making a private guide imperative to both navigate the crowds and to guide you to the most interesting sites within the lost city.

Pompeii is a vast archaeological site — much bigger than anyone expects. There’s a lot to take in: seemingly endless streets of the shells of shops, houses and public buildings, and no shade, so go early.

Things to see and do in Pompeii

The Forum

The heart of political, commercial, social and religious life in Pompeii, the forum was designed to be the city's focal point and provide a space large enough to contain all the city's inhabitants for important events. Around it, as was typical of Roman towns, were the civic buildings — the municipal offices, the basilica, the main temples and the market, known as the macellum. Pompeii's sprawling forum is surrounded on three sides by a double colonnade with Doric columns on the lower level and Ionic columns above. On the fourth side, you’ll see the Temple of Jupiter.

Cave Canem mosaic in the entrance of the House of the Tragic Poet

The House of the Tragic Poet is one of the best known in Pompeii and its rich decoration is highly unusual for its size. No one is sure who the owners were or why their small house bears such ornate mosaics and frescoes, many of which depict scenes from Greek mythology. The most popular mosaic is in the entranceway and shows a chained dog with the words 'cave canem,' which translates as, 'Beware of the dog.' It's thought the warning was to prevent visitors from entering the more private parts of the house and it has now become a symbol of Pompeii.

Casa Del Fauno

One of the largest and most luxurious of Pompeii's many grand houses, the Casa del Fauno or House of the Faun dates from the 2nd century BC. It covers an entire city block and is named after a bronze statue of a dancing faun found in the impluvium (rain tank). Some of Pompeii's most intricate mosaics were found here and although many are now on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, you can still see captivatingly complex geometric patterns on the floors. You can also see the many rooms, private baths and the colonnaded gardens.

Casa dei Vettii

A sophisticated private villa known for its frescoes, the Casa dei Vettii is named after its owners who lavished considerable wealth on its construction and decoration. Experts think that the villa was being redecorated at the time of the eruption and the frescoes here are painted in the latter-day 'Fourth Style', which used a series of framed pictures separated by elaborate decorative panels to cover entire walls. The most impressive room contains richly decorated trompe l'oeil scenes of architecture. The main rooms are built around two internal courtyards fringed by a peristyle or row of columns while stairways lead to a long-destroyed upper floor.

Villa dei Misteri

One of the best-preserved villas in the city, the 90-room Casa dei Misteri, Villa of the Mysteries, survived relatively unscathed under its shroud of ash. Miraculously, its elaborate frescoes were found to be perfectly intact when uncovered and have become some of the most famous in the city. The most important fresco is a highly detailed depiction of an initiation into the mysterious cult of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, drama and fertility, and stretches across the four walls of a large reception room. The villa sits on a large farm just outside the city walls.

Brothel

Pompeii had numerous brothels including the Lupanar Grande, which is thought to have been purpose built. The erotic frescoes depicting the services on offer and the explicit graffiti have made it a controversial site and it has been closed on numerous occasions as unsuitable for viewing. It has ten cramped, windowless rooms with stone beds and little in the way of comfort. It's thought to have served ordinary Romans rather than the wealthy who could have afforded to keep a mistress or concubine.