When Mt. Vesufius erupted in 79 CE, Roman cities along the Bay of Naples, such as Pompeii and Herculaneum, were completely buried by volcanic debris. Elite retreats for leisure, such as the villas at Oplontis and Stabiae, were also destroyed. This course will rediscover the lost cities and ancient monuments on the Bay of Naples the temples, theaters, baths , streets, and many houses to understand the infrastructure and daily life of these ancient cities and spaces. Surveys of area archaeological sites will help to contextualize these monuments within their regional and cultural landscape. Material and information will also be drawn from UMD's excavations at Stabiae.