Via dell'Abbondanza (Street of Abundance), Pompei

The Street of Abundance was the main artery of ancient Pompeii and remains one of the city’s most important routes for modern visitors. Stretching for almost 900 meters, it was Pompeii’s longest street and, 2,000 years ago, one of its liveliest. Its name comes from a relief of Abundantia, the Roman personification of prosperity, carved near one of the street’s fountains.

Leading toward the Forum, the street connected with crossroads that gave access to the Triangular Forum, the Palaestra, the Amphitheater, and other key parts of the city. It was lined with public buildings, shrines, elite residences, shops, workshops, taverns, fountains, and baths, reflecting nearly every layer of Pompeian society.

The first highlight is impossible to miss. Walk along the street into the main body of the roadway to find the raised pedestrian stepping stones. Here, large stone blocks are placed strategically across the road. In historical reconstructions, they are shown as ancient crosswalks that allowed citizens to cross the street without stepping into mud and wastewater, while the gaps between the blocks provided clearance for passing chariot axles.

Speaking of chariots, deep wheel ruts are set into the heavy basalt paving blocks of the roadbed. These gouged grooves run parallel to each other along the centre of the street, marking decades of continuous passage by heavily loaded commercial carts.

The final highlight is the feature that gave the street its famous name. As you first step onto the avenue directly from the main Forum intersection, look to your left to find the Fountain of Abundance Relief. It was a piece of municipal engineering that provided fresh water to the local neighborhood, and it features a carved relief of Abundantia holding a cornucopia. She was the Roman goddess of abundance, prosperity, and good fortune.