When the volcano Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, the city of Pompeii was buried in ash and rock, then forgotten, left almost perfectly preserved for centuries. Archaeological excavation of the site began in 1748 and revealed extraordinary evidence about public and private life at the height of the Roman Empire. In this text, Colin Amery and Brian Curran of the World Monuments Fund describe the history of Pompeii from its origins to its tragic destruction. They discuss the repercussions of the discoveries made there on art, archaeology and interior design, and explain the ongoing conservation and renovation work that is taking place at the site.