Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TERME STABIANE & CASA DELLA VENERE IN CONCHIGLIA
As it shoots eastward, Via Marina becomes Via dell'Abbondanza (Street of Abundance).
Lined with ancient shops, this was the city's main thoroughfare and where you'll find the
ing from the vestibule, bathers would stop off in the vaulted
apodyterium
before passing
through to the
tepidarium
and
caldarium
. Particularly impressive is the stuccoed vault in
the men's changing room, complete with whimsical images of
putti
(winged babies) and
nymphs.
Towards the northeastern end of Via dell'Abbondanza,
Casa della Venere in Conchiglia
bomb that damaged it in 1943. Although unexceptional from the outside, it houses a gor-
geous peristyle that looks onto a small, manicured garden. And it's here in the garden that
you'll find the striking Venus fresco after which the house is named.
ANFITEATRO
Just southeast of the Casa della Venere in Conchiglia, gladiatorial battles thrilled up to
70 BC, it's the oldest known Roman amphitheatre in existence. Over the way, lithe an-
impressive portico dating to the Augustan period. At its centre lie the remains of a swim-
ming pool.
CASA DEL FAUNO
From the Grande Palestra, backtrack along Via dell'Abbondanza and turn right into Via
Stabiana to view some of Pompeii's grandest houses. Turn left into Via della Fortuna and
then right down Via del Labirinto to get to Vicolo del Mercurio and the entrance to
Casa
house. Covering an entire
insula
(city block) and boasting two atria at its front end (hum-
bler homes had one), it is named after the delicate bronze statue in the
impluvium
(rainwa-
ter pool). It was here that early excavators found Pompeii's greatest mosaics, most of
which are now in Naples' Museo Archeologico Nazionale (
Click here
). Valuable on-site
remainders include a beautiful, geometrically patterned marble floor.
Tragic Poet)
features one of the world's first 'Beware of the Dog' (
Cave Canem
) warnings.
