Photographs Show Why Pompeii Still Draws Tourists and Archaeologists

A collection of modern-day photographs captures the enduring allure of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The images, taken by various photographers between 2009 and 2025, highlight the site's remarkable preservation: streets that feel like stepping back in time, intricate stone patterns, brightly painted walls of private residences, and plaster casts of victims, including one often called "the sleeping man." The photos also show contemporary elements, such as Igor Mitoraj's "Centauro" sculpture installed in the Forum in 2013 and other Mitoraj statues placed throughout the city in the 2010s, including a likeness of Daedalus at the exit. Pompeii, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, is the world's largest and longest-excavated archaeological site, spanning about 165 acres. An estimated 2,000 people perished in the eruption, with around 1,200 remains found. The photographs document tourists exploring the Forum Baths, walking streets with head coverings against the sun, and viewing animal-inspired artworks in mosaics, sculptures, and frescoes. The peak of Mount Vesuvius looms in the distance, a constant reminder of the catastrophe.