Pompeii

If you’re ever in Naples, then you should stop by the nearby Pompeii. This ancient town was destroyed and buried under ash in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. My brother and I took the hour long train ride in the morning and luckily there was no line at the entrance. We bought a guidebook and map to help navigate our way before scanning our tickets at the gate. My parents came several hours later and visited almost all of the same sites we did and without purchasing a book, so depending on the trip you want, the purchase is up to you. 

We walked through the polygonal stone streets and visited noteworthy sites such as the Forum, the Temple of Apollo, the Large Theatre, the Basilica, and the Amphitheatre. Rather than sit in one of the tourist trap restaurants of Pompeii, we took a train back to Florence for a late lunch after thoroughly exploring the town. I was glad that I learned a little and laughed a lot on this special day trip with my younger brother to Pompeii, a definite stop on anyone’s Italian vacation.