When Vesuvius blew its top, the mountain was almost 2,000 metres high. The force of the eruption reduced this to around 1,289 metres, and now visitors can walk around the crater getting spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples. Attraction World offers a Pompeii and Vesuvius day trip from Naples for £94.
Another major, and no less
impressive, archaeological site is nearby Herculaneum. On the same day in AD 79, this seaside town was buried to a depth of 20 metres by the same eruption. Items from the site at the British Museum included a loaf of bread with the mark of the baker, a child’s cradle and clothing, which were all preserved by carbonisation. These can now be found on display at the world class Archaeological Museum in Naples, along with examples of extraordinary workmanship, such as mosaic floors, sculptures and paintings and exquisite jewellery.
l EASY LAVA Access to Pompeii is easy; visitors can fly direct to Naples from Gatwick (British Airways), Stansted, Bristol and Liverpool (easyJet) and Birmingham, Manchester and East Midlands (Thomson). The archaeological sites are all linked to both Naples and Sorrento via the Circumvesuviana train line that departs from the main station in Naples and stops at Torre Annunziata where you find the Villa Poppaea, Herculaneum and Pompeii and finishes at Sorrento. Clients could stay in Naples or
Sorrento; both make excellent short-break destinations that can easily be stretched out to a week or more if visitors want to explore the Amalfi Coast and even take a boat over to the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. Naples has accommodation to suit all budgets, from luxury hotels with superb spas, such as Grand Hotel Parker’s, brochured
Looming large: Mount Vesuvius casts a
shadow over Naples
History today: Herculaneum, like Pompeii, was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79
84 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 16 January 2014
TOP TIP
Avoid Pompeii in high summer:
temperatures soar and there is little shelter. Visit in spring or autumn instead
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