Things to see in Pompeii with kids
A visit to UNESCO World Heritage site Pompeii with kids can be a disappointment, unless you all know what to expect and what to see.
Booking.com
In 79 AD Mount Vesuvius in Campania sprayed pumice and ashes out over the Bay of Naples and buried the city of Pompeii. (See more facts about Mount Vesuvius by following the link) Today Pompeii is a major tourist attraction with 2,5 million visitors a year, but in spite of the fascinating story a visit to Pompeii with kids can be a disappointment. They expect drama and danger and end up with boring old stones.
Admittedly, it has been years since we visited Pompeii and lots may have changed in the meantime, but somehow I doubt that it has become much more kid friendly. I mean, once you are inside there are no ice cream parlours, cafes, souvenir stalls or coin operated rides. Just an endless assortment of stones – some big, some small and some that look like ordinary bricks – pillars and columns interspersed with weeds and – in many cases – a relentless sun. In order to hold the attention of people below the age of 15 for more than 1 hour, you have to be either an ingenious storyteller or your kids must be incredibly well-behaved.
In other words: Next time I’m taking kid to Pompeii, I’ll let them know what to expect beforehand, and we’ll head directly for the places that have more than just stones on display. Like the places listed here:
A peek into one of the magazines where casts and amphora are stored.
Casts
Forum Olitorium was an unfinished warehouse at the time of the eruption. Today it is used as storage for archaeological finds. It contains a large quantity of amphora and pottery, oil presses, and architectural elements along with the chilling casts of victims. Even after 2000 years these figures still convey the unspeakable horror of the people trapped in lava, like the muleteer who sits crouched up trying to protect his face from the exhalations.
More casts can be seen in the Garden of the Fugitives near Porta Nocera. These people were imprisoned in ashes and pumice that solidified over time and left cavities in the earth. In connection with the excavations the cavities were filled with plaster giving us the human figures of the disaster.
You have to tell children the story about Pompeii to get them interested in the site.
Buildings
With good imagination it is still possible to see that Via dell’ Abbondanza was Pompeii’s main shopping street. One of the most interesting houses in my opinion is the Thermopolium with a Lararium. A household shrine, where the family offered food and drink to the gods every morning. The holes in the counter were designed to hold amphora containers, and there are also some nice paintings on the walls.
Odeon is an intimate amphitheater with a seating capacity of about 1500. The kneeling atlantes that carry the world upon their shoulders are touching, while the gladiator barracks appear mainly as a square lined with old pillars.
In the tepidarium of the Forum Baths there’s the brilliantly decorated barrel vault with a nice band of human columns ie. atlantes figures.
Colourful frescoes have been preserved in some of the houses.
Paintings
House of the Ceii has been attributed to a certain Ceius on account of the election slogans on the façade. Here you will see wonderful frescoes of hunting scenes with all sorts of wild animals, poetry readings and Dionysos pouring wine for a tiger and one of the mythical maenad females.
House of the Vettii is luxuriously decorated with snakes and gods and cupids and putti (and quite a lot of phalluses as well). While Villa of the Mysteries holds a lot of red colour paintings.
Being Danish I would not hesitate to take children to Lupanar, which was one of many brothels in Pompeii. The frescoes here are outspokenly pornographic, but it takes a certain skill to decipher the 2000 year old images, and most Danish children have seen far more vulgar pictures at the petrol station or on television and internet. Besides we cannot change the fact that many of the paintings of Pompeii were erotic.
Kids love mosaics representing animals, like the ‘Beware of the dog’ sign.
Mosaics
The House of the Great Fountain has a so-called nymphaeum or cave shrine to the nymphs. It is faced with beautiful mosaic in coloured glass combined with three tragic masks and a statue of a putto angle carrying a dolphin. Another kid friendly mosaic is the ‘Beware of the dog’ sign in front of the House of the Tragic Poet.
What would you go to see in Pompeii with kids?
I have always been fascinated with the mystique of Pompeii, Mette! When I do get there someday I won’t have children with you but that’s a great head’s up for those who do go with them. I would want to see the gladiator barracks most definitely. To imagine what it was like back in the day. Good post! :)
Thank you Mike.
I’d love to see Pompeii. With kids. And Herculaneum. Which of the two is the most fascinating, so you think? Or should one really see both?
My kids found one day at Pompeii interesting, but given the choice between Herculaneum, Vesuvius and the beach the chose the latter. And we haven’t thought to stop there later.
I can see how this trip would not be as exhilarating for a child. However, I think it would be worth it to try! It’s beautiful and if full of so much history and information. Thank you for sharing!
I agree. And most children like it if you adjust their expectations beforehand.
Interesting…
Thank you.
This is a really good point you bring up! I think I would try to make it into some kind of “treasure hunt” game so the kids have a “mission” of sorts…otherwise I can see how it could be a bit boring for them (unless they take a great interest in this period of history!)
Yeah, treasure hunts always do the trick. Wouldn’t be surprised if you could find an online game app for this particular purpose.
Maybe a big part of taking kids to Pompeii is lots of advance work – preparing them and getting them excited for what they will see. I recall when I was there many years ago some of the kids were absolutely fascinated by it. It certainle amazed and intrigued me!
I suppose that Pompeii and the eruption of Vesuvius stands out as a timeless school project for children all over the world. Search traffic seems to indicate as much, and it would explain why some children find a visit to the site so utterly fascinating.
I was in my early 20’s when I visited Pompeii and I thought it was incredibly interesting. I think walking with kids down the main street might be enough to make them realize that a moment in time was captured. I’d hope so.
I’d hope so too, but I’m afraid it would depend very much on how you’ve raised your kids:)
I visited Pompeii once and it’s very impressive.
Yes, there’s so much to see you have to prioritize.