Temple of Venus, Pompei
Pompei as a city is fairly compact, its grid of streets tightly packed onto a hillside. At the western edge of the centre, you reach the top of the hill close to the Temple of Venus. On a hot summer鈥檚 day in southern Italy, the uphill walk can be a struggle. A visit to the temple can be hard work, but visitors are rewarded with stunning views of the River Sarno and Gulf of Naples below. The temple was built here by the Sullans, a Roman faction who invaded Pompei in 80 BC, fully enforcing Roman culture and language on the city for the first time.
As one of the first buildings completed under this new regime, the Temple of Venus was built in accordance with strict Roman architectural guidelines. Facing towards the sea, it was formed from a wide tufa podium, surrounded by porticos, with marble decoration throughout. Built as a symbol of the wealth and status of the Sullans, as well as a fitting place of worship for the Roman goddess of love, it is thought to have been the finest temple in Pompei. Sadly, its prominent position, close to the city walls, made it a target for invaders, meaning it was largely ruined when first rediscovered two centuries ago.
As one of the first buildings completed under this new regime, the Temple of Venus was built in accordance with strict Roman architectural guidelines. Facing towards the sea, it was formed from a wide tufa podium, surrounded by porticos, with marble decoration throughout. Built as a symbol of the wealth and status of the Sullans, as well as a fitting place of worship for the Roman goddess of love, it is thought to have been the finest temple in Pompei. Sadly, its prominent position, close to the city walls, made it a target for invaders, meaning it was largely ruined when first rediscovered two centuries ago.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Pompei. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Temple of Venus on Map
Sight Name: Temple of Venus
Sight Location: Pompei, Italy (See walking tours in Pompei)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Pompei, Italy (See walking tours in Pompei)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Pompei, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Pompei
Creating your own self-guided walk in Pompei is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Pompeii Introduction Walk I
Modern-day Pompei is best known for its ancient predecessor, the Roman city of Pompeii, that fell victim to the massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ruins of Pompeii, first uncovered in the late 18th century, were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Presently, this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, drawing annually up to 2.5 million visitors.
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Pompeii Introduction Walk II
Frozen at the moment it was buried under the thick blanket of ash and pumice, the city of Pompeii (now excavated) remains a unique window into the past, offering a snapshot of everyday life back in the 1st century AD Roman Empire. Aside from causing quick and unexpected death to the city, the huge eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD did have one positive outcome 鈥� it preserved everything (properties,... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles