Pompeii, located about 30 min. from Naples, is one of the most visited tourist atractions in Italy. The archeological park that houses the Roman settlement which was frozen in time when Mount Vesuvius errupted in 79AD. Casts which have been made from impressions of bodies that perished in in the ash are on display at Pompeii. That's probably the major reasons to visit Pompei instead of Herculaneum, another archeological park preserved by the same erruption, but one located closer to the sea and current Naples. We find the Roman Villas at Herculaneum more fascinating that the houses at Pompeii. To see the best preserved artifacts from both sites, you'll have to go to the archeological Museum in Naples, which you may want to vist after having visited either archeolgical park.