ancient pompei sprawls in a decrepit heap at the foot of mount vesuvius which erupted in ad 79, destroying the town.
stones and ash buried it, and it lay undiscovered until the 17th century.
in 1748 excavation began, revealing a city frozen in time.
all around, buildings have survived, often replete with paintings and sculpture.
graffiti is still on walls, streets are paved; the ghosts of that distant past are almost tangible on the site.
star sight:
· house of the vettii;
· house of the faun