Life in Pompeii The Greeks settled in the area in the 8th century B.C, there was one region that stood out. A region around Mount Vesuvius attracted wealthy vacationers who wanted to be somewhere with a beautiful view and people who wanted to soak up the sun. By the first century A.D, Pompeii was only a resort for some of Rome’s most distinguished citizens. There were paved streets and beautiful houses which were a quality you couldn't really find in many other towns at the time. Scholars estimate that there were 20,000 people living in Pompeii.
