Italy - Mount Vesuvius

Following our visit to Pompeii the natural next excursion would be to Mt Vesuvius, the now dormant and not extinct, volcano overlooking Pompeii. The last eruption was in 1944, but none had the destructive results of the one in 79AD which destroyed Herculaneum and Pompeii.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Vesuvius

The visit to Mt Vesuvius entails a journey from Pompeii via shuttle bus to the gates of the Mt Vesuvius National Park. Here a change is made to a 4-wheel drive vehicle to take you virtually all the way to the top - not all the way! There is still a walk of a few hundred metres awaiting you, on a gradual incline easy under foot, to the crater rim. No boots necessary, we did it in sturdy sandals, although the mixture of lava rock and ash under foot makes for a fine dust, so you will return all dusty around the feet and legs, giving you a nice pseudo tan look.

Sturdy sandals on top of Vesuvius

The 4x4 drive to the top - in some ways this could be the highlight of the day. The vehicles are large Mercedes Benz transports almost military looking, with airplane style seats and air conditioning. They travel two at a time keeping a steady average speed of about 20mph all the way up. Going around bends and hitting the ruts all swaying and bouncing sedately on long travel suspension gives an exhilarating ride. Not to be done with a hangover or queasy stomach!

4x4 to the top parking area

Climb to the crater rim

Part of the package is a brief talk about Mt Vesuvius, some facts and figures, but also the story you want to hear about those eruptions. And this lady knew her stuff. You have a tingling sensation of standing next to the rim of what is not an extinct volcano ....
The talk also makes it quite clear that Vesuvius can erupt again, more so because the centre of the crater is blocked with no debris or gases exiting, meaning that pressure must be building inside somewhere. Various monitoring equipment are in place and evacuation plans have been drawn up for the area around Vesuvius, affecting some 3m people.

Stats and info

On the rim

After the talk you are free to wander around at leisure, passing the very out of place tat of the curio vendors. Why there has to be this nonsense on top of a beautiful creation of nature, a declared National Park mind you, I just don't understand. What they sell is hugely overpriced and of no material value. No, I took no photos.

Been there done that

See the smoke, it's alive ....

Of course being on top of a mountain you assume there will be a splendid view of the surrounds. Not guaranteed here at Vesuvius, or anywhere you find mountains and sea next to each other. Hot air from below meets cooler air above and you have mist. And still people will moan refusing to understand this is nature at work. I know, I heard them on top of Vesuvius ....

Mist rolling in

Pompeii below in the distance

At best there was a hazy view at times of Naples and Pompeii below. It was even harder to see the Bay of Naples. Then again you have come to see a dormant volcano, to my knowledge the only one you can peer down into the crater without risking life and limb. Very affordable too for anyone willing to part with 20 Euros pp. And who knows you may even get the thrill of standing on the crater rim when next it erupts .... what a sensation .... what a sight!