Aimed at a student audience, this study introduces the archaeology of the three crucially important Roman towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Ostia. After an introduction to civic institutions and the make-up of Roman urban society, de la Bedoyere looks first at the main public buildings and monuments of the three towns, then at domestic architecture, and the ways in which it was used to project status and identity. A shorter section on death and prestige investigates the important cemeteries of Pompeii and Ostia, whilst a final chapter outlines the history of archaeology and conservation in the three towns. Throughout photographs and plans accompany the text, and an appendix contains translations of primary sources and inscriptions related to the sites.