Lovely buffet breakfast once more at our little Hotel Bellavista Francischiello near Massa Lubrense.
Really did think this was a bit of a find – it certainly suited us with the car plus I prefer a quiet location.Plus we love a good balcony and the sunsets over Capri and the sea were just gorgeous.
Bye bye to everyone there , very nice staff indeed and off we headed towards Sorrento again, fingers crossed that the road on a Tuesday would be much quieter than Sunday! Thankfully that proved to be the case and we whizzed easily along the Corso Napoleon this time. Even the motorway, when we joined it at Castellamare, was running smoothly and not too busy.
I had deliberately held off booking our timed slot to Vesuvius because we just didn’t know what traffic problems we might face.And once you book, there’s no cancellation without losing the fee.It also seemed like you had to book your slot very accurately time-wise or possibly not get in at all.Tricky!
I wrote a very detailed review of trying to buy tickets online, using a mobile, trying to get a decent enough internet signal, at the side of the road near the bottom of the drive up to the parking area.I eventually discovered that there is actually more leeway on your timed entrance so that helped too! We were there when it was fairly quiet so things will only get worse as the season goes on.That said, you don’t want to do the easy hike up unless it’s reasonably clear weather wise.Here’s the review of my experience re trying to book tickets on the day…I was reduced to tears at one point, so frustrating and also quite embarrassing.
All that said, it was well worth it in the end.A long and winding drive up to the parking area – it seemed to go on forever. Easy parking (though you might have a LONG walk when really busy from where you manage to park the car); a good wee shuttle bus for only 3 euros return each up to the start of the walk.An excellent track all the way, very safe, lots of room.A bit of effort re the pull up initially but nothing very much then after 20 mins it all flattens out.It really is a wonderful sight, to see steam vents rising from the rock and the crater itself. And of course the views over the Bay of Naples is terrific.It does feel like a ‘must do.’
Very pleasant temperatures in March though it must get broiling in summer; no shade apart from what is offered by a few of the busy, very small cafes at the top.
Glad to have done it!
It was only a 20 min or so drive to Herculaneum, the next and final visit of the day.Actually to be honest, I had really wanted to see Villa Oplontis but it was closed.
Parking was just about empty as was Herculaneum.We’d visited Pompeii previously which I’d loved.This site was fascinating too but overall I preferred Pompeii as I just felt better able to imagine the larger town area somehow. I don’t think this is the general view, however.Most prefer Herculaneum.
There were some lovely mosaics and frescoes…
a fantastic 2,000 year old bed base…
…the wooden rafters of a stonemason’s workshop and some of his implements; and I always love the takeaway shops with their containers still intact – apparently going out for a quick takeaway lunch was the done thing! What changes??
It was a little difficult to navigate the site, I thought, the site plan wasn’t that easy to follow but we managed.
An hour or so here and then it was a dash to the airport, roads quiet, easy peasy really round Naples, quick return of the car (the woman doing the check of the car congratulated Chris on not having a scratch on it!)
And that was our jam packed week in Southern Italy over.What a terrific holiday it had been…just re-affirming our love of the country and inspiring another visit as soon as…
Arrivederci Italia!
For our previous days travels see…
naples, puglia and the amalfi coast EXPLORING SOUTHERN ITALY – Puglia PUGLIA CONTINUED: alberobello, locorotondo, martina francA OTRANTO, LECCE AND MATERA SORRENTO AND THE AMALFI COAST AMALFI COAST – CRAPOLLA COVE HIKE
annestravelsandhikes.com 