ne of the world's most famous natural disasters created one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions: the city of Pompeii. Each year, nearly two million visitors journey to the well-preserved ruins of this ancient Roman town, located 15 miles south of Naples along the Amalfi coast.

In August of 79 A.D. Pompeii was caught off guard by the violent volcanic explosion of Mt. Vesuvius. No one expected it; many lives were lost, and the city remained buried beneath pumice and ash until 1748. Unfortunately, early excavations were haphazard and caused a lot of damage since they were carried out by treasure hunters who were more interested in what they could sell than in preservation and history. Things changed for the better in the 1861, when Giuseppe Fiorelli began a methodical approach of digging and cataloging what he found. There is still so much to learn from Pompeii that archaeological excavations continue even now.

Pompeii is quite large, so if possible, give yourself a full day to explore. Don't bother paying for the audio guide. It is little more than a recorded version of the free booklet you receive when you pay for admission. The free booklet includes a map and descriptions of the city's highlights, such as the House of the Tragic Poet, the brothel and the forum. Although the city is in ruins, with many pillars and walls crumbling, certain sections are remarkably well-preserved. At one point, I glanced down and realized that the mosaic floor I was standing on looked quite new. If I didn't know better I would never have guessed it was 2000 years old.

Even when the main streets are crowded with tourists it is still possible to wander off and feel like you have the city of Pompeii all to yourself. Make sure to bring water, snacks and to wear a hat and lots of sunscreen because there is not much shade to be found. It is definitely worthwhile to explore side streets as well as the main attractions in order to get a feel for what life was like in this ancient Roman city. Those who rent private jets. can also enjoy stunning views of Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast from above.

The hours of admission to Pompeii vary according to the seasons. From November to March the site is open from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (with final entry at 3:30 p.m.), and from April through October the site is open from 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (with final entry at 6:00 p.m.) Please note that Pompeii is closed three days each year: January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.

Tickets to Pompeii are €11 for a single day. Three day passes are €20 and grant entrance to five different sites (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplonti, Stabia and Boscoreale.)

To get to Pompeii from Naples, take the Napoli-Sorrento line of the Circumvesuviana train and get off at the Pompei Villa die Misteri stop. By car, take the Autostrada south from Naples and exit at Pompeii. From Rome, your best bet is to charter a private plane.

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Tui Snider is a freelance writer who loves to travel. You can find more of her writing and photography at  Mental Mosaic: Even Home is a Travel Destination and @mentalmosaic on Twitter.