With this two day itinerary you can see the best of Naples and Pompeii. Enjoy the atmosphere on Spaccanapoli, visit the beautiful churches of Pio Monte della Misericordia, Chiesa dei Girolamini and Naples Cathedral then stroll down Via San Gregorio Armeno. Enjoy the National Archaeological Museum, visit Naples Sotterranea and see the Veiled Christ in Cappella di Sansevero. On your second day you can climb the slopes of Vesuvius and see Pompeii, a city preserved by volcanic ash from a 79AD eruption.
Day 1 – Naples 1 Day Tour
In the first day you can visit the beautiful city of Naples
We already have a beautiful article about what to do in Naple in only one day, you can read it at thi link:
What to see in Naples in only one day
We surely recommend you to visit Naples wih a certified guide, in order to enjoy this beautiful city in the best way possible!
If you need a multilingual certified guide, you can take a look at our webiste, we’ve a special section for the guide-booking:
Certified Guides in all Italy
If you are in Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii or Rome, you can reach Naples with our private transfers and tours, you can look for them at our website:
Di Nocera Service – Tour and Transfers in Naples
Day 2 – Pompeii and Vesuvius
Pompeii
A visit to the iconic UNESCO site of Pompeii from Rome or Naples is a must for most travelers. Visitors come to see the archaeological remains (scavi) left of the Roman city which was covered in lava when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. Pompeii refers to the archaeological park as well as to the town. But it is the archaeological site which interests tourists most and the statue of Madonna in the central square that draws the locals.
Pompeii (and neighboring cities like Herculaneum) was frozen in time when Mt. Vesuvius erupted leaving the city plan, civil buildings, streets, homes, frescoes, walls and nearby rural villas intact. The towns and territory of the commune of Pompeii were covered in 4-6 meters deep of ash and pumice(volcanic rock in its powdered form). There are 5 official archaeological sites in the area.
Pompeii was originally established in the 6th or 7th century BC and became a Roman colony in 80BC. When it was destroyed by the eruption 160 years later there were approximately 11,000 residents. Covered in the ash the city remained hidden for hundreds of years and all that lay beneath the surface was preserved protected from the moisture and air. Human bodies had of course disintegrated and rotted but during the excavations plaster was used to fill in the spaces bodies left beneath the ash layer. This way we can see the actual position and physical activities people were in when the volcano erupted. Visitors should make sure they see the Pompeii forum, the brothel, the villa called House of the Faun, the frescoes and the amphitheatre.
Just 3km north of Pompeii you can visit the Antiquarium di Boscoreale and there are other interesting museums in the area if you plan to make more than a day trip. If you are traveling with an organized tour then you will not have the headache of getting there and back or of booking.
However if traveling independently there are certain parts of the site that you need to book in advance to enter.
If you need a certified guide in Pompeii, we have a special section on our website to book a multilingual certified guide!
Book you guide in Pompeii
Transfer from Naples to Sorrento with stop in Pompeii
If you are looking for a transfer form naples to Sorrento, or Amalfi Coast, but you want also to visit pompeii, you can book a special transferwith a 2hrs stop in Pompei (also with guide).
You can do it simply sending us a mail at info@sorrentotransfer.com, or visiting our website: www.sorrentotransfer.com
Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is best remembered as the volcano which left Pompeii covered in lava when it erupted in 79AD. It is located just a half hour drive from Naples in the Vesuvius National Park and is usually visited as part of a day trip from either Naples or Rome. A day trip to Mt. Vesuvius can be coupled with a visit to Pompeii. The volcano is known to have an eruption cycle of approximately every 20 years, and the earliest known eruption was 25,000 to 17,000 years ago. However the last eruption was in 1944. It is safe to visit but you should know this is a “real” volcano. This is the last active volcano in continental Europe. The volcano reaches 1,282 meters above sea level, has a crater with a diameter of 650 meters and a depth of 230 meters.
Visitors are usually take a bus to the foot of the mount at an altitude of about 1000 meters above sea level. From there it is a hike to reach the highest point on the trail. Visitors should come prepared for the walk which is not difficult but not suitable for those with health issues. Bring along warm clothing, good walking shoes, water, a hat and sunscreen. There are 9 nature trails which wend their way around and up the mountain but most tourists follow trail 5 (The Gran Con or red trail) which starts in the car park in the municipality of Ercolano. Trail 5 will take you to the cone of the crater. The entire length of trail 5 is 3807 meters and you will reach a maximum altitude of 1170 meters above sea level. The climb should take you 2-3 hours there and back. There are routes of 1-5 hours. Once you reach the end of the trail you will have beautiful views out across Naples bay and unforgettable views looking into the crater.
Born in 1994, passionate about photography, sport, music and cinema.
Giovanni is the web-master and marketing manager for SorrentoMagazine and Di Nocera Service.
He also writes articles about trekking and adventure on this blog!