Summer 2011 - Italy Part 3

South of Napoli (Naples):

We used Naples as a base for exploring Pompeii, climbing My Vesuvius and another day trip down to Salerno and onto the Amalfi coast by local bus.

More photos of Pompeii and Vesuvius can be seen here.

When Mt Vesuvius erupted in AD79 it sent down a terrifying pyroclastic flow of searingly hot material which incinerated all wooden materials and covered everything with metres of hot ash. Unfortunately for the inhabitants it would have been the most awful event to say the least.

However Pompeii does give a good insight into Roman life as our visit here showed. The ash layers would have also provided excellent protection for the many earthquakes that have since occurred. (One particularly bad one was in AD367 caused massive damage in the Roman settlements in Libya.)



The first view of Pompeii inside the main entrance.

One of many excavated streets in Pompeii.

Numerous shops lined such streets. The following two photos are of the remains of some fast food shops. Hot food would have been stored in these large clay pots to serve meals on the run. No evidence of any seating arrangements to have meals at is evident.

Pots to store food at another outlet not far from the one above.

The Roman engineers built huge aqueducts which bought water from far away to their cities. In Pompeii there were 32 fountains at strategic points which were named as reference points so that citizens could find their way around and to meet up at.

Operating fountain.

Each fountain also had a big trough full of clean water. These supplies of water had a very important function which will be explained shortly. I had to be patient to get this photo as there was heavy demand to fill water bottles here.

Lead pipe.

The Latin name for lead is plumbum, hence the terms plumber and plumbing.

Stepping stones across a street.

One of the reasons for the stepping stones was that it was a good place to cross the street, clear of the horse poo. Horse drawn chariots being a popular means of transport; street pollution, not air pollution in Roman times.

Once a day, to a set timetable, usually around midnight, the plug was pulled on the water troughs and the streets consequently washed clean. Not sure where all this went or if it was directed towards nearby gardens.

Chariot grooves

As our tour wound its way around the streets of Pompeii,

we entered a building that had had a roof put on it. This was the first room in this building.

Nice cosy room!

Now we were told to look up above the doorway, some of the "advertising" was clearly visible and left no doubt as to the fact that this had been a brothel.

Roman "menu"

Roman "menu"

One was not sure if the "menu" above the door referred to only that room or not!

Mains in here?

Very well preserved and protected mosaics.

The forum and Vesuvius

On leaving the narrow streets our tour found its way to the wide open forum area. It was difficult to get a photo without too many people but this one is typical of what you see all over the world - they can say "been there done that, got the photo to prove it."

After leaving the forum we passed through another courtyard and on to a large covered shed which contained artifacts excavated and put into storage. Hundreds of amphorae, used for storing olive oil, for instance, were able to withstand the searing heat of the eruption.

Amphorae

There were also several of the victims cast in their death positions.

Pompeii exit

A day trip to Pompeii with a tour company is the way to go as public transport would be difficult to get there and do Vesuvius as well.

Vesuvius:

After Pompeii, it is a relatively short trip up the side of Mt. Vesuvius to the car park. A twenty five minute walk brings you to the crater rim.



Viewing the crater. The last big eruption was in 1944.



The crater.

The level of volcanic activity when we were there was very low. Only a few wisps of steam and the faintest hints of a sulphurous odour.

Luck was on our side as it a was nice clear, hot day and the view from the top awesome.



The heavily populated slopes and flats close to Vesuvius 



The Bay of Naples and islands.
The Amalfi Coast is on the other side of the land in the centre.



Looking back towards Napoli (Naples)

Amalfi Coast:

After one day out to see the effects of an eruption, the next day was time to catch the train to Salerno then a local bus to the Amalfi coast and another up the hill to Rovello. You don't need to go an an organised tour for a similar day put.



Post card scene from Rovello

Amalfi coast

Rovello is built high up overlooking the sea. Every piece of land is put to good use here.



Rovello vege garden



Villa Rufolo



Villa Rufolo



Garden at Villa Rufolo



Rovello resident who was taking a
keen interest on who was passing by.

The return train trip back to Naples from Salerno meant that we did a trip right around Mt Vesuvius.

After three nights in Naples in order to visit the above we moved on to Bari and Lecce before a long train trip up the Adriatic Coast to Bologna and Verona. Photos from Bari and Lecce can be found here.  Another blog detailing our adventures in Bologna, Parma and Verona is now online. Check the achive to the right too