Touring the Bay of Naples (Part 2)

Next on our trip was Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius. I had heard from lots of people that Herculaneum was better preserved than Pompeii due to the nature of the eruption. Pompeii was pelted by volcanic rock and pumice before being buried under the same material whereas Herculaneum was buried under a huge layer of volcanic ash and mud so not sustaining the same level of damage as Pompeii before it was lost. Herculaneum was much smaller than Pompeii too, although this is mostly because the majority of Herculaneum is underneath the new town of Ercolano and so can’t be excavated.

For me Herculaneum was the most haunting site we visited as it was clear that life just stopped suddenly. Machinery still in place where it would have been working. Mosaics that look just as amazing as they did 2000 years ago. And the skeletons of around 300 people hiding in the boat sheds who thought that they would be safe there. It felt a little like we were intruding on something very personal, but it had to be seen to give a true sense of the loss that took place. Our guide, Karina, was so knowledgeable on the location as it turned out that not only does she guide there but she also excavated the site for three years! Not just your average tour guide. We headed to a local pizzeria for lunch, recommended by our fabulous guide, and enjoyed great food and wine before the next part of the day, walking to the top of Mount Vesuvius!

As we pulled up to the area where the climb begins I was very nervous. I’m not the fittest person in the world and it was very steep. We were told it takes the average person around 30 minutes to reach the crater, so we set off with our group, ranging in age from late thirties to late seventies, and started to make the walk to the top. It was hard work but being cooler up there made it a little easier. It took me 40 minutes to reach the top, but we couldn’t go straight to the crater as we had been followed up the mountain by a thunderstorm and so had to sit it out and wait for it to pass before we could move any further. There is something special about being sat at the top of an active volcano in the middle of a thunder and lightning storm! The storm passed, and we were allowed to make the short climb to the crater of the volcano which did not disappoint at all. Seeing the power of nature up close was truly amazing, something I’ll never forget. Coming back down was just as hard work as going up but was so worth it.

The next day we headed to the glamourous island of Capri, enjoying a 45-minute ferry crossing from Sorrento before a guided walking tour of stunning Capri Town, through the little streets and residential area to the most beautiful of viewing spots. A bit of free time to enjoy the sights and trying to spot the odd celebrity before an hour’s boat trip around the island to experience it’s views from a totally different perspective. This was one of my favourite parts of the trip, it’s not a holiday until you’ve done a boat trip! We returned to Sorrento late afternoon and spent a couple of hours wandering the quaint streets, shopping and soaking up the atmosphere before heading back by train to Vico Equense.

Our final day we spent the morning at the Museum in Naples where all the artefacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum were taken and are on display to the public. I loved the huge 3D model of Pompeii which showed just how big the site was and how much more work is needed to excavate the remaining areas. A real eye-opener!

The last stop of our tour was an afternoon at Oplontis. I’d never heard of this place before and was excited to hear that it was a villa that had also been found in good condition that was buried by the eruption of 79AD. Walking around the what would have been a plush seaside residence with brightly coloured walls, a huge swimming pool and the remains of a kitchen with ovens and worksurfaces intact was so unbelievable. I couldn’t understand how this place was here and no-one really knows about it. It was the jewel in the crown of a week I’ll never ever forget.

Having never done a touring holiday before I really wasn’t sure if it would be for me, but I can wholeheartedly say that it was a great way to see the most amazing places, have a guide who is so informative and has a wealth of experience to share as well as getting to meet lovely likeminded people who love travelling as much as I do. I will definitely be doing an escorted tour again in the future!