A visit to Pompeii is a step back in time to ancient Italy. Once a thriving Roman town located near the Bay of Naples, Pompeii was suddenly and devastatingly destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ash and lava from the eruption preserved the city in an eerie snapshot of time and it has been a source of archaeological fascination for centuries. Pompeii is one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the world where it’s possible to explore the homes, shops, temples, and public spaces that were frozen in time. While here, be sure not to miss the Villa of the Mysteries and the Forum, the main civic center of Pompeii. The Amphitheater, where residents would have watched gladiator battles and the Stabian Baths, once the largest and most luxurious baths in the city, are also musts.