ITALY: FOR THE FIRST TIME TOURISTS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE ANCIENT RUINS OF POMPEII AT NIGHT UNACCOMPANIED.

Record ID: 647654

  • Title: ITALY: FOR THE FIRST TIME TOURISTS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE ANCIENT RUINS OF POMPEII AT NIGHT UNACCOMPANIED.
  • Date: 22nd August 2004
  • Summary: (EU) POMPEII, ITALY (AUGUST 22, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS: OF THE ANCIENT CITY OF POMPEII DURING THE DAY, WITH TOURISTS WALKING. (4 SHOTS) 0.26 2. VARIOUS: OF POMPEII AT NIGHT, ILLUMINATED, WITH MUSIC AND COMMENTARY IN BACKGROUND. (4 SHOTS) 0.58 3. VARIOUS/NIGHT: PEOPLE LOOKING AT ANCIENT AMPHORAS. (3 SHOTS) 1.15 4. SCU/NIGHT: (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) VISITOR, ANGELA, SAYING: "During the day, you see it in a more superficial way, because of the people and the rush. Instead, in the evening, in the twilight, you better appreciate the ruins." 1.34 5. WS/NIGHT: MORE OF PEOPLE WANDERING THROUGH RUINS. 1.41 6. VARIOUS/NIGHT: OF VISITORS LOOKING AT PLASTER CASTS OF PEOPLE CAUGHT IN ERUPTION. (2 SHOTS) 1.57 7. WS/NIGHT: MORE OF PEOPLE WALKING. (2 SHOTS) 2.13 8. SCU/NIGHT: (SOUNDBITE) (English) VISITOR, KOFI, SAYING: "Its a quite strange sensation seeing it at night-time - it's slightly eerie. But, it's really good - I enjoy it." 2.24 9. VARIOUS/NIGHT: MORE OF PEOPLE AMONG RUINS. (2 SHOTS) 2.38 10. SCU/NIGHT: (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROBERTO, FROM ROME, SAYING: "This is my first visit to the ruins of Pompeii, therefore it's very evocative at night. I was thinking that perhaps for the first visit it would have been better to come during the day to get an idea of the place. But it's nice - though I would have preferred a bit more illumination." 3.00 11. VARIOUS/NIGHT: MORE OF RUINS. 3.38 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th September 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: POMPEII, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA2IWRWMUM5Q8U2KUPMIK0CPTSA
  • Story Text: Lovers of ancient Rome can now wander through the
    ruins of Pompeii unaccompanied.



    Hot Italian summers do not deter the hordes of
    tourists who visit the vast number of archaeological sites
    the nation has to offer.

    The ancient Roman city of Pompeii, southeast of Naples,
    is one of the hot-spots which attracts more than two
    million people a year. For the first time this year
    tourists have been allowed to enter the site at night
    unaccompanied.

    During summer when temperatures can rise to around 35
    degrees Celsius visitors have the chance to escape the heat
    of the day and soak up the evening atmosphere - an idea
    thought up by archaeological office of Pompeii.

    People carefully make their way through the ruins as a
    voice booms over music, with half columns and remains of
    temples softly illuminated.

    "During the day, you see it in a more superficial way,
    because of the people and the rush. Instead, in the
    evening, in the twilight, you better appreciate the ruins,"
    said Angela, from Pompeii, on her first evening visit.

    The Roman city of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption
    of Vesuvius in 79 AD, killing around 20,000 people with its
    toxic fumes and showering the city in ash and debris.

    The remains were discovered around 1750, when bodies of
    people were unearthed, as well as household objects.

    Plaster casts recreating body shapes of those trapped
    in the eruption and objects such as amphoras can also be
    seen.

    "It's a quite strange sensation seeing it at night-time
    - it's slightly eerie. But, its really good - I enjoy it,"
    said Kofi, from London.

    Night visits are limited to a small area of the ruins,
    compared to the 44 hectares which are open to the public
    during, the day. The night time excursions are concentrated
    around the old Forum - the market place area which was the
    focus for important political and religious functions.

    "This is my first visit to the ruins of Pompeii,
    therefore it's very evocative at night," said Roberto from
    Rome, on holiday with his wife Wanda.

    "I was thinking that perhaps for the first visit it
    would have been better to come during the day to get an
    idea of the place. But it's nice - though I would have
    preferred a bit more illumination," he added.

    The evening visits will run through to the end of
    summer, with tickets ranging from 10 euros for a simple
    entrance to 25 euros including a guided tour.


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