The first eruption of Mount Vesuvius was in 79 AD and it buried the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Since then there have been over 100 eruptions with the last one in 1944. Still active today the volcano can be reached by a bus which starts from Naples train station or you can hire a minivan taxi which charges under 10 euros per person and will wait to take you back to Naples. You need to allow around 2 hours for your walk to and from the volcano. The lower part of the volcano is very fertile and you will wind around slopes covered with vines and olive trees but as you ascent up to the crater the ground is stony and barren. Book Pompeii Accommodation
A visit to Herculaneum can be combined with climbing Mount Vesuvius and if you are interested in a detailed explanation you can engage a local guide at the site. The site has 2 main thoroughfares and walking along these you will come across various remains including the House of Argus, the Bath Complex many shops and the Palestra.
Pompeii can be reached from Naples by train in 30 minutes. Upon arrival you will be at the western entrance of the site. There are also many day trips available from Rome which visit Pompeii and the Amalfi coast. Pompeii was one of the most important commercial sites in ancient times. The Romans took it over from the Greeks in 200 BC and during this time it became a flourishing trading town. It was first destroyed by a severe earthquake in 63 AD and buried by the eruption of Vesuvius again in 79 AD. It is believed that most of the 20,000 inhabitants of the city had already left but the eruption "froze" the way of life in Pompeii. The excavations have since revealed a great deal about the ordinary life of Roman citizens.
You will need to allow a few hours to visit Pompeii as it is an extensive site. Some of the highlights which are marked and outlined on the site maps displayed at every entrance are the Forum, the House of the Tragic Poet, the Amphitheatre, the Palestra, the Villa dei Misteri and the House of Loreius Tiburtinus.
