In AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii, which was a lively town with temples, town squares, markets, theaters, shops, spa and private houses. The entire town and its residents were buried in 4 to 6 meters of volcanic ash.
After nearby Herculaneum was accidentally discovered in 1738, excavation started in Pompeii in 1749. Since then, Pompeii has been one of Italy’s top tourist destinations for the past 250 years.