Caio everyone!

Today we were up with the sun for breakfast as we had an early departure to Pompeii. After a two and a half hour bus ride, we had finally made it to the ruins. Where we began our tour with Claudio and Michella by looking at the theater, the larger one where primarily comedy plays would occur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent the majority of our time touring around regions I and IX, traveling the streets. Exploring Regions I and IX of Pompeii reveals two very different but deeply interconnected sides of ancient urban life. Region I, located along the southeastern edge of the city, feels more residential and intimate. Its narrow streets, modest homes, and small workshops show the rhythms of everyday Pompeian life, families cooking, artisans working, neighbors interacting in shared courtyards. Walking through this area, it becomes clear how densely populated Pompeii was and how closely daily routines were tied to the architecture. The preserved wall paintings and domestic layouts offer a glimpse into private life, reminding me that beneath the volcanic ash were ordinary people with ordinary routines.

 

 

 

 

 

In contrast, Region IX sits closer to the city center and reflects a more commercial and social character. Here, the remains of shops, taverns, and larger domus structures reveal a district shaped by movement, trade, and public interaction. The wider streets and more elaborate buildings suggest a wealthier population and a more outward-facing lifestyle. Region IX feels like the energetic heart of Pompeii, where business, politics, and social life intersected. We also got to see a new excavation site currently happening. We are not allowed to currently to post any pictures from the site but the vibrant frescoes were gorgeous and the mosaic works being dug up were amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

After we finished up Pompeii by seeing the secondary, smaller theater in the city center, we reboarded our bus to travel to downtown Naples. We had a group lunch of crocches and margarita pizzas at Lombardi 1892 with their specialty buffalo mozzarella. After we finished lunch, we took a bus tour around Naples noting historical sites such as the castles, towers, and palaces before returning to the hotel for the night.

Buonanotte!

-Brynn Leary