Pompeii by SallyM
It's very easy to visit Pompeii from Sorrento. Just take the 'Circumvesuviana' train from Sorrento to 'Pompeii Scavi/Villa dei Misteri'. There are several entrances to the site - the one nearest this station is the Porta Marina. Pompeii was buried under ash and rock when Vesuvius erupted on 24 August AD 79, preserving the Roman city for future generations to explore.
It is a huge site (it is a whole town after all). The town covers an area of 66 hectares, or which 45 hectares have so far been excavated. Don't expect to see it all in a day trip. Some of the highlights for me included the Basilica (court house), and the house with ?cave canem? mosaic (to deter burglars) at the entrance. The streets had no drainage, so the pavements were high, with stepping stones (just narrower than width of chariot wheels). We also saw the only official brothel, which had recently been re-opened to visitors. Our guide was so excited about this that he had brought his own camera. We also saw lots of ?fast food? shops, which we were told often had a room at the back for a 'lady of the night'.
If visiting in summer, make sure you have plenty of drinking water and a hat - it's very hot and there is not much shade.
