Pompeii, formerly known as Pompeios, stood as a Roman city situated 22 km away from Naples, Italy, within the boundaries of the present-day Pompeii municipality. The city met its demise during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which led to a massive ash shower that entirely buried Pompeii. For 1600 years, it remained concealed until its accidental rediscovery in 1748. The preservation of buildings, artifacts, and even the victims' bodies, shaped by ash and mud, offers a poignant snapshot of the city frozen in time. Since its rediscovery, ongoing excavations have revealed an extraordinary archaeological site, providing an intricate glimpse into daily life during ancient Rome. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, Pompeii ranks among Italy's top tourist destinations, drawing around 2,500,000 visitors annually.

Mount Vesuvius, known as Vesuvio in Italian, is a stratovolcano located near the city of Naples, Italy, approximately nine kilometers east of the city and close to the coast. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted in the last hundred years, although it is currently dormant. Of the other two main active volcanoes in Italy, Etna is located on the island of Sicily and Stromboli on the island of the same name. Vesuvius is most famous for the devastating eruption in 79 AD, which resulted in the destruction of the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. These cities were never rebuilt, although some survivors and occasional looters removed items from the rubble. The cities were forgotten until accidentally rediscovered in the late 18th century.