Situated on a rocky plain, formed by volcanic activity in ancient times, stands the city of Pompei: the town covered by 6 metres of ashes and lava pellets during the famous eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. As a result of this catastrophic event, it is now possible for us to visit a real Roman city. The first ring of walls was built between the 7th and early 6th centuries BC, enclosing an area of about 63 hectares. Towards the end of the 5th century BC, at the time of the Samnites, Pompeii was considerably built up, and this urban development continued into later centuries. In 80 BC, the town became a Roman colony, by the name of Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum. The city contains many examples of public buildings (the Forum with the Capitolium, the Basilica, the administrative buildings, structures dedicated to the Imperial cult, the macellum (indoor market), the public baths, and area of the theatres and amphitheatre), as well as private residences (The House of the Faun, the House of the Tragic Poet, the House of Menander, the House of the Chaste Lovers, and the Villa of the Mysteries). All of these help us to understand the structure of this ancient city, with both its artistic aspects and those linked to everyday life.