One of our favorite excursions near the Amalfi Coast in Italy is to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, the excavation site of a sophisticated Roman town buried in the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. 

Excavations and restoration projects offer a remarkable and ever-evolving window into life in ancient Rome. Artisans of Leisure arranges private tours of the highlights of Pompeii with expert guides who bring the city and its inhabitants to life.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted, pyroclastic surges (fast-moving superheated clouds of ash and gas) engulfed Pompeii, preserving its streets, houses and inhabitants beneath thick layers of debris for nearly two millennia.

Pompeii has fascinated the public since official excavations began in the mid-18th century. The discoveries at Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum, including beautiful frescoes, mosaics, carvings and haunting remnants of daily life frozen in time, drew widespread attention and sparked a renewed interest in ancient Rome.

Beyond its significance to history and archaeology, the refined aesthetics and craftsmanship uncovered at Pompeii profoundly influenced the Neoclassical movement in art, architecture, decorative arts and fashion that flourished across Europe from the 1750s through the early 19th century.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pompeii continues to captivate visitors and scholars alike. Ongoing excavations ensure the site continually evolves, with new discoveries such as a lavish private bath complex and a banqueting room with vibrant, large-scale frescoes revealed in 2025.

We take our travelers to stroll through the well-preserved streets and explore the different neighborhoods of what was once a flourishing town of around 20,000 inhabitants.

Compelling details of ordinary daily life abound, including frescoes in a tavern showing men gambling and numerous thermopolia (fast-food counters) where hot food and drinks were served.

There are also bakeries with millstones and ovens, a Lupanar (brothel) decorated with erotic frescoes and a sports complex featuring a floor mosaic of two athletes wrestling.

Highlights of a private visit also include touring the impressive Forum, the heart of civic life, and the elaborate, well-preserved public bath complexes.

 Lavish private villas with exquisite architecture and interiors offer a glimpse of aristocratic life in the first century A.D. 

Reflecting the sophistication of Roman interior design, elaborately decorated rooms often opened onto colonnaded gardens, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living that provided light and ventilation.

Gardens were integral to Roman domestic architecture, conceived as tranquil spaces for reflection as well as settings for social gatherings that showcased the owner’s wealth and refined taste.

The archaeological park is restoring green spaces throughout the site with historically accurate plantings to recreate how gardens appeared during the city’s heyday. 

For instance, the park recently unveiled the restored Garden of Hercules, a former perfume garden planted with hundreds of antique roses, violets, vines and trees.

Among Pompeii’s most impressive residences is the House of the Vettii, one of the city’s most sophisticated and best preserved.

Recently opened to the public after decades of restoration, it is an exceptional example of Roman domestic architecture and interior design of the first century A.D.

Built around two atriums and a courtyard garden, the villa reflects the cultural sophistication of its owners, two freedmen whose success attests to the social mobility possible at the time.

The House of the Vettii is especially notable for its vivid frescoes.

While many depict mythological scenes, others capture details of contemporary life, such as this image of Roman warships in a harbor.

Its garden, recreated with plants, statues and fountains, offers a multisensory experience for visitors. 

Other notable villas include the House of the Faun, known for its iconic Alexander Mosaic; the Villa of Mysteries, celebrated for its Dionysian frescoes; and the House of the Silver Wedding, with a magnificent atrium supported by soaring Corinthian columns.

Private tours of Pompeii can also be combined with lunch and a wine tasting on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius or visits to see the ruins of nearby Herculaneum and Oplontis, also destroyed by the eruption and preserved under ash.

For interested travelers, we also recommend a private tour of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, which exhibits many of Pompeii’s finest sculptures, mosaics and frescoes.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to arrange a private Italy tour featuring the rich cultural and scenic highlights of the Amalfi Coast, including Pompeii and other favorite destinations such as Positano, Ravello, Capri and Naples.