Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius

Since exploding into history in AD 79, Vesuvius has blown its top more than 30 times. What redeems this slumbering menace is the spectacular panorama from its crater, which takes in Naples, its world-famous bay, and part of the Apennine Mountains.

Ruins of Pompeii

The ghostly ruins of ancient Pompeii make for one of the world’s most engrossing archaeological experiences. Much of the site’s value lies in the fact that the town wasn’t simply blown away by Vesuvius in AD 79 but buried under a layer of lapilli (burning fragments of pumice stone). The result is a remarkably well-preserved slice of ancient life