Pompeii Archaeological Sites | What To See Inside Pompeii?

This region includes several important sites and highlights like the House of the Citharist, House of the Lovers, Garden of the Fugitives, House of the Menander, House of the Europa Ship, House of the Lararium of Achilles, and House and Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus. Gawk at the bronze statue of Apollo playing the lyre, a stucco decoration depicting scenes from the Trojan War, inscriptions and graffiti and wall art. You’ll even see casts of some of the victims of the volcanic eruption.

Visit the famous Amphitheater, the House of Octavio Quartio (a miniature of the grand aristocratic country villas), the House of Venus in the Shell, the Large Palaestra, and the Necropolis of Nocera Gate. The Necropolis has several burial monuments and tombs while the amphitheater will take you back to when the stadium were filled with townsfolk cheering on gladiators fighting in the arena, including a brawl that led to the closure of the arena for a decade.

Regio III has limited but incredible sites that are worth a visit. Check out the Schola Armaturarum, which served as the headquarters of a significant military-style association where people would gather to plan activities and games to be held at the Amphitheater. Visit Nola Gate and the Walls with inscriptions in Oscan on its façade. The gate has hangings in overlapped tuff blocks and a barrel vault made of concrete. This region also includes the Necropolis of Nola Gate, the House of Trebio Valente, and the House of the Moralist but these sections are currently closed to the public.

This region is still not open to the public.

A few important sites visitors can check out here are the Thermopolium, the House of Orion, the House with the Garden, the House of the Leda and the Swan, and the House of Marco Lucretius Frontone. The Thermopolium is a restaurant featuring an L-shaped counter adorned with paintings and depictions of animals that it sold. Admire the electoral inscriptions and pictorial decorations at the House of Marco Lucretius Frontone. Visit the House of Orion for its elegant floor mosaic and rare depiction of Orion, the mythical hero.

Head to the House of the Tragic Poet known for the mosaic that reads ‘Cave Canem’, which translates to ‘Beware of the Dog’. Don’t miss the mythological paintings depicting episodes from the Iliad. Named after the hall of mysteries, Villa dei Misteri dates back to 2nd century BC and is known for its ancient paintings depicting Dionysus, female figures, fauns, maenads, and more performing different rituals. The Villa of Diomede was one of the first buildings to be excavated and is named after Marcus Arrius Diomedes, whose tomb is located at the entrance of the villa. Other sites that you can explore include the House of the Golden Cupids, the House of the Faun, and the Thermopolium.

This region includes important sites of Pompeii like the Triangular Forum, the Doric Temple, the Temple of Isis, and the Antiquarium. The Triangular Forum stands on a ridge overlooking River Sarno and is a must-visit site in Pompeii. The Doric Temple is one of the most sacred places in the city. Inscriptions point to an attribution to Goddess Athena and even Hercules. The Antiquarium is home to artifacts and findings that depict daily life in Pompeii. It also houses human plaster casts of the victims of the volcanic eruption.

Check out the House of Marcus Lucretius in via Stabian and the Central Baths on your visit to this region of Pompeii. The former is a dwelling formed following the union of two separate houses. Pay attention to the beautiful paintings depicting mythological scenes and walk along the garden featuring an elegant fountain made of marble. The Central Baths are the largest of the bathing areas and were under construction when Mount Vesuvius erupted. There are a few more sites in the region but they are closed to the public.