Pompeii 2

Ok I realised the last entry on Pompeii was just far too long, so here is a short one on the end of my visit focusing on the two most interesting and impressive houses, the House of the Dancing Faun and the House of the Mysteries.

The House of the Dancing Faun is probably the best to visit if you could only see one house. Its possibly the most luxurious of the villas just because of the vast urban garden. It also has its bronze dancing faun (a copy - the original is in a glass case in  Naples) and the amazingly good mosaic of Alexander (also a copy here as the original too is in the Archaeological museum). What Pompeii could do with for the visitor is more of these copies of originals previously looted from the site. But then again probably just keeping together the bits that are still here is more of a priority.

 As for the Villa of the Mysteries, well unfortunately that is both off at the edge of the site and under major restoration, so not much to see. And in particular the room with the paintings from which the villa gets its name is completely covered in scaffolding and canvas, so nothing to show, Here are some pics of what is left though,

 Being on the edge of the site one also comes across the tombs of the city's wealthier residents.

One of the best preserved towers in the ancient city walls

 And back out via the amphitheatre again just before the sun sets and my feet wear out.