The archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum are the closest image you can get of how a town belonging to the Roman Empire worked and looked like. The devastating eruption of 79AD of Mount Vesuvius buried these cities under molten rock and ashes preserving them from the unavoidable spell cast by the course of time. Check this article in which I explain how and why you should plan a visit in these incredible time capsules.
My Dear Italia 