There are few experiences quite as moving as stepping into the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Standing in the same streets as people did 2,000 years ago, it is a time capsule that can transport you right back to those remote times. Fortunately, Pompeii is not the only place you can experience this. Here are four off the beaten track alternatives in Italy.
Villa Oplontis
Said to be the summer home of Emperor Nero’s second wife, this villa was preserved in the same eruption of Mount Vesuvius as Pompeii. What is distinctive about this site is the view it gives us of elite Roman vacation residences.
Terme Stabiane
Here you can find the ruins of some thermal Roman baths. You can walk through the changing rooms, hot rooms, tepid rooms, cold rooms, and lounge rooms. You can get here from Napoli Central Station.
Rione Terra
This breathtaking site presents the brilliantly preserved underground city of the once-bustling ancient Greek seaport Rione Terra. The city has been built over by subsequent generations.
Baia Sommersa
Once a bustling summer resort at the height of the Roman Empire hosting such illustrious individuals as Cicero and Nero, Baia is now a sunken city that has to be visited by scuba diving.
