Pompeii, Italy, Europe

Walking around in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. It is truly a must do activity. There are still parts being excavated and the whole area is so huge that is impossible to see everything in one day. However, just having seen a small section of it is already an experience that I will not easily forget.

Some wall paintings in the Suburban Baths (Terme Suburbane) in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy are an indication of loose morals.

The Suburban Baths were publicly owned and were built in the early empire, possibly under the Emperor Tiberius (14–37 AD), much later than the others and thus were built outside the city walls near the Porta Marina, one of the city gates. The erotic wall paintings in the Suburban Baths are the only set of such art found in a public Roman bath house. Explicit sex scenes (such as group sex and oral sex) are depicted in these paintings that cannot be easily found in collections of erotic Roman art.

Going up the hill and through the gate on Via Marina in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. This gate provides access to the west of the city and it is the most impressive among the seven gates of Pompeii. The name derives from the fact that the exit road led to the sea. The layout with a barrel vault made of concrete, that is a mixture of mortar and stones, dates back to the Silla colony (80 BC).

The house at #12 on the Via Marina in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. All of the houses in Pompeii have been given numbers for easier identification, much like the street names. As more of the city was excavated the numbering schemes had to be changed numerous times.

Remains of the basilica in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. The Basilica, with its extension of 1,500 square metres, was the most sumptuous building of the Forum, and its space was used to carry out business and for the administration of justice. It is accessed from the Forum through five entrances separated by tuff pillars; inside it is divided into three naves with two rows of brick columns with Ionic capitals. A richly decorated suggestum, where judges sat while judicial affairs were managed, is located at the centre of the short western side. The space was enhanced with an equestrian statue, whereas the walls are richly decorated with stucco like large blocks of marble. The Basilica is dated back to 130-120 BC and is one of the oldest examples of this type of building in the entire Roman world.

Tempoio di Giove (Temple of Jupiter or Capitolium) in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. As many people were strolling around on this day I was lucky it was able to get a shot of it when it was empty.

The Temple of Jupiter was a temple in Roman Pompeii, at the north end of its forum. Initially dedicated to Jupiter alone, it was built in the mid-2nd century BC at the same time as the Temple of Apollo was being renovated – this was the area at which Roman influence over Pompeii increased and so Roman Jupiter superseded the Greek Apollo as the town's highest god.

Via degli Augustali is one of the many original streets in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. Large cobblestones were used for paving.

Caligula's Arch (Arco di Caligola) in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. The arch was erected in honor of Julius Caesar Germanicus, known as Caligula, on the Via di Mercurio. The arch dedicated to the emperor Nero is visible through the opening of the arch.

Two thousand years ago people were actually living on Via di Mercurio in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. It was good to see that large parts of the original structures have been recovered.

Looking down the Vicolo di Modesto in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. A pretty narrow road with large cobblestones. Hard to imagine that two thousand years ago people were actually using these roads.

It was not always clear to us what kind of buildings or houses we saw while strolling around in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, mainly because we did not prepare for our visit. We believed this may have been a bakery and later found out it actually was.

Back at the temple of Jupiter (Capitolium) in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. The temple structure was built in 150 BC to dominate the forum, and it became Pompeii's main temple after the Roman conquest.

Somehow red poppies are everywhere in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. They thrive on the ruins and really brighten up the place.

Arches were a thing in the days when Pompeii in Italy was still a thriving city. They can be seen everywhere.