Pompeii: Porta di Ercolano

 Now let's head over to the Porta di Ercolano, or Herculaneum Gate in English. Porta di Ercolano is one of eight entrances into Pompeii through the city wall. It is arguably the most important and used gate since it heads to Herculaneum and then on to Rome.

 The large center gate is flanked by two narrowed passageways, the one on the left open to the sky while the one on the right is a barrel tunnel. Note that visitors would be visible for quite awhile before entering the city and would therefore be vulnerable to any sort of inspection or assault.

 Let's walk through the open passageway and step outside the city for a moment. Note that the walkway is unpaved, probably another way that visitors were kept off-kilter.

In typical Roman fashion, just outside the walls is the cemetery, or necropolis. This area is filled with tombs, which these tourists who have paused in the shade are viewing.

 On this pedestal once stood a large bronze statue, though it has been lost with time.

 Outside looking in....the two side gates from outisde of Pompeii.

 I'm not sure which one, but it was in one of these areas that the skeleton of a mounted guard was discovered, still covering his post right up to the end, in his suit of armour with his lance in his hand. That's dedication.

Further outside the gates is the Villa of Mysteries, but quite frankly we were worn out from two days of viewing ruins so we decided to call it a day. We re-entered the city and headed to the exit, through the Ruts of Pompeii.