Resting at the foot of the legendary, smoldering volcanic Mount Vesuvius, lies one of the world’s most treasured and frequently visited archeological sites, the ancient Roman town of Pompeii. The town was buried under approximately 5 metres of ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D, leaving a well preserved ruin that offers unprecedented insight into Roman life two centuries ago. For over 250 years this remarkable site has attracted visitors from around the world eager to witness this fascinating town stopped dead in its tracks and frozen in time. Clustering alongside its ruined predecessor, the modern day town of Pompei is often overlooked by tourists. However, for many Italians it is a sacred place to which millions of pilgrims travel to congregate at Santuario della Madonna del Rosario, the 19th-century basilica in the center of the new town. This modern town serves as a practical base if you want to spend a full day or longer visiting the ruins and offers some excellent restaurants specializing in delicious and historically accurate ancient Roman dishes.