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Pompeii and Naples

Ippubblikat: 27.08.2019

18.07.2019

AIDA Western Mediterranean

In advance, we had a hard time deciding which of the many attractions to choose from, as the area is so diverse and interesting. Although we may have expected a very hot day, Pompeii was a must for us, so we booked a morning excursion through AIDA in advance. We wanted to decide spontaneously about the rest of our time on site.

At 7:30 am, one hour after sunrise, we arrived in the port of Naples. It was humid and warm, but a pleasant breeze allowed us to have breakfast on the outdoor deck of the Bella Donna Restaurant and at the same time greet the city with a view of the Castel Nuovo during the reverse docking. The view from the old town up to Castello San Martino in the Vomero district amazes us. These are the moments that make a cruise unforgettable.

Port entrance
Port entrance
View from the breakfast table
View from the breakfast table

Shortly after being allowed to leave the ship, we were already sitting in one of the nearby parked excursion buses. As soon as all seats were occupied, we hit the highway, always keeping an eye on Mount Vesuvius, towards the once sunken city of Pompeii. Our guide, who informed us about the history of the largest archaeological site during the drive, lived in the new town of Pompeii and spoke good German with a pleasant Italian accent. He represented his homeland in an entertaining way.

At the entrance, we got to experience a bit of Italian mentality. Since we had some children in the group and our guide only wanted to pay the corresponding price for them, we had the pleasure of witnessing an Italian argument. Not the only one on this trip.

In the group, we soon set off, following the Aida sign through the streets of the city. Once again, we were overwhelmed by what we saw: well-preserved streets with their typical pedestrian crossings, remnants of temple complexes, business and craft houses, residential houses, and bathhouses with highly interesting irrigation systems. The tour even took us through the pleasure district to the large forum square. Here we could see the victims of the volcanic eruption (casts of the cavities in the cooled rock). All of this always in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, powerful and awe-inspiring at the same time, and responsible for the catastrophe that can happen again at any time.


Theater
Theater


Street with typical pedestrian crossing
Street with typical pedestrian crossing



Entrance to residential house
Entrance to residential house
Road to the Senate Square
Road to the Forum
Thermal baths
Thermal baths
Street painting
Street painting
Brothel
Brothel

Roadblock

Forum square
Forum square
Plaster cast
Plaster cast






Our guide
Our guide



The tour lasted about 2 hours, so we were back in the port before 12:00 pm.

Castel dell
Castel dell'Ovo


It is only a short walk from the port past the Castello to the old town of Naples. Here we experienced the next cultural shock. In the streets of Naples, colors, noises, smells, and voices mixed together to create an incredibly intense impression. The streets were loud, narrow, honking, dirty but inviting. We searched for a pizzeria that had a small wooden terrace facing one of these streets and enjoyed an authentic Neapolitan pizza with buffalo mozzarella, and it was really delicious.


Galleria Umberto I
Galleria Umberto I
Galleria Umberto I
Galleria Umberto I


Unfortunately, the Palazzo Reale with its equestrian statues and the Neoclassical royal palace had closed doors when we arrived.

Palazzo Reale
Palazzo Reale
Piazza del Plebiscito
Piazza del Plebiscito
View of Castel Sant
View of Castel Sant'Elmo

We still had time for a ride on one of the funiculars (Funicolari), heading up to the Vomero district with its Sant'Elmo Castle and San Martino Monastery. From there, we had a fantastic view over Naples to Mount Vesuvius. Unfortunately, we were not aware that we would have another uphill walk after getting off the train station, which was very strenuous in the hot temperatures. However, the view over Naples was more than a suitable reward, as was the Aperol that we enjoyed in a small bar.

Funicular
Funicular
View of Naples
View of Naples


Feeling that it was already too late, we started our journey back. We could rely on the funicular, and despite the long path within the port area, we arrived punctually before the ship set sail again and once again enjoyed a fantastic departure.




Vesuvius
Vesuvius


At around 8:30 pm, we passed the island of Capri for about 20 minutes, and the red sun sank into the sea (uh... no, behind the mainland) like in a movie. Late dinner and uninteresting show program forced us to have another drink on the outdoor terrace of the Anytime Bar.

Capri
Capri

Conclusion: We made optimal use of our time in port. Pompeii and a small sightseeing tour through Naples, both are possible in one day. Good condition is an advantage.

Tips: An authentic Neapolitan pizza in the streets of Naples is a must!

In the peak of summer, use the early morning hours for Pompeii, as there is hardly any shade and it gets crowded around noon.

#napoli #naples #vesuvius #pompeii


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