to come outside and congregate in Pompeii’s main square, showing how we British tend to be far more insular than our Mediterranean cousins, and most of the people we encountered were genuinely friendly and welcoming. So whilst it may be a city of contrasts, with the serene ruins on one hand and the slightly brash, tourist-oriented town on the other, it cannot be denied that Pompeii is a fascinating place full of Italian spirit that is more than worthy of exploration.