The Napoli Chapter: Pompeii Echoes and Vesuvius Volcano
When in Napoli —relax?
Let me set the scene: two best friends, a dream trip to Italy, and an itinerary ambitious enough to make even the most seasoned traveler break out in a sweat. We were chasing sunsets in Cinque Terre, having the best time Florence, walking every street of Rome and seeing every detail of Vatican City as if it was our full-time job. By the time we rolled into Napoli, we were two trains away from passing out in a pile of luggage.
Naples—chaotic, vibrant, deliciously alive—deserved two well-rested souls ready to dive headfirst into its labyrinthine streets, its pizza, its art, its noise, its soul. Instead, it got… us. Two sleepyheads with sore feet and hearts full of love for Italy, but bodies that whispered (alright, more like screamed): “please stop.”
We arrived with great expectations and promptly decided to take it slow. An actual, unplanned collapse onto our Airbnb. The truth is, Napoli ended up being the part of our trip where we gave ourselves permission not to do everything. We strolled a bit. We ate pasta—because, obviously. We laughed a lot. We people-watched from a tiny café where we waited for our accommodations. We barely even made it to sunset. But we made memories.
There’s something wildly beautiful about not needing to tick every box. Travel doesn’t always have to be museums and monuments and fifteen thousand steps on your Garmin. We didn’t see all of Naples. We didn’t even try (it was humanely impossible for us). But we felt it. The pulse, the grit, the joy. We let ourselves be soft and slow for a moment in a trip that had us racing from wonder to wonder. Napoli was our exhale.
But for now? Napoli was our pause button. And honestly, it was perfect. A chance to catch our breath, gather ourselves, and recharge for the adventures still ahead.
The ancient city of Pompeii
The next morning, we rolled out of our charming Airbnb—just steps from the train station (a strategic win for two adventurers with sore feet)—and hopped on the local train bound for Pompeii. It was one of those golden travel moments where everything clicks into place, starting with the ride itself, once we figured out how to pay for the ride: it was fast, easy, and surprisingly scenic. A good omen.
The moment we arrived in the town of Pompeii, we could feel the energy. The streets were buzzing, vibrant with life. In the plaza near the church, a lively market had taken over—locals selling everything from fresh fruit to handmade trinkets and lovely rings my friend bought almost for each one of his fingers. We also took the time to buy some nice things to take home. Outside the ancient site itself, the atmosphere was electric, like something special was in the air… and it turns out, it was.
Not only did we time our visit with a free-entry day (bless the travel gods), but as we made our way in, we were met with something completely unexpected: a Pink Floyd exhibition—inside Pompeii. I’m a massive fan, so you can imagine the level of joy-squealing I reached when I saw the posters, displays, and yes, even people walking around wearing Pink Floyd t-shirts like we’d all been called there by some musical fate.
It was surreal—walking through the remnants of an ancient city frozen in time, all while immersed in the psychedelic echo of Pink Floyd’s music. Their legendary 1971 performance of their album ‘‘Echoes’’ in the Pompeii amphitheater felt like it was still reverberating through the stone.
And in the background, ever-present, was Vesuvius. You could see it from almost every corner of the site, looming in the distance—silent, stoic, powerful. A reminder of how nature can shape history in a single moment. We wandered through ancient villas, saw breathtaking mosaics, stepped over stone roads etched by time, and soaked it all in with that awe-filled quiet you can only really find in places like this.
Pompeii was originally settled in the 7th–6th centuries BCE by the Oscans, an Italic people. It eventually came under Roman control in the 1st century BCE and became a thriving Roman city. By the time of its destruction in 79 AD, Pompeii had around 11,000–15,000 residents.
It was a bustling port city, wealthy and cosmopolitan. The people of Pompeii lived full Roman lives—complete with amphitheaters, forums, bathhouses, temples, bakeries, taverns, brothels, elegant villas, and beautifully frescoed walls. It was the kind of place where you could see gladiator fights, debate politics in the forum, pick up bread from your neighborhood oven, and admire mosaics in a friend’s atrium.
What makes Pompeii so extraordinary is that these weren’t grand monuments meant to be preserved. They were everyday places, and that’s what makes them feel so human.
Mount Vesuvius erupted violently and without warning. The city was buried under 4 to 6 meters (13–20 feet) of volcanic ash and lava. Nearby cities like Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Oplontis were also destroyed.
Pompeii was rediscovered in the 18th century when workers digging for a palace foundation hit something unusual. Systematic excavation began in 1748, and Pompeii quickly became one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.
The volcanic ash had preserved the city in astonishing detail—homes, art, food, tools, even graffiti. This preservation gives us one of the most vivid pictures of Roman life ever discovered. Now, Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and welcomes millions of visitors a year.
After a visit to the museum and a little souvenir spree (because obviously), we were getting ready to figure out our next move—how to get to Vesuvius. And just as we stepped outside, in perfect timing, we saw the sign of a bus stop to not just any bus—the Vesuvius bus. We hadn’t even finished wondering where to go, and there it was, like it had been sent just for us.
Even better? We were the only two people on board. I mean—private ride to the volcano? Yes, please. We sat back and watched the road wind upward toward the crater. I could not quite believe how the day had unfolded.
Vesuvius National Park
After a day wandering the ancient ruins of Pompeii, standing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, we knew what was next: the climb.
I had mentally prepared myself for a bit of a challenge—I mean, it’s a volcano. I brought my most reliable, adventure-ready hiking boots and braced myself for a steep, possibly soul-testing ascent. What we actually got was... surprisingly delightful.
The main trail up Vesuvius is a well-kept, wide gravel path, about 1.5 kilometers each way, with a steady incline that’s very manageable. Technically, it’s categorized as an easy to moderate hike, and I’d agree—it’s totally doable for most fitness levels. There are a few viewpoints along the way where you can stop to catch your breath, but truth be told? We didn’t even need them. The views themselves gave us enough reason to pause.
What did catch me off guard were the people doing full-blown photo shoots on the trail—in dresses, flowing skirts, and one person who looked like they were ready for the cover of Vogue: Volcano Edition. Meanwhile, we were in hiking gear, backpacks, and SPF armor. But hey, fashion is power. It it may or may not made me rethink my outfit.
It’s also worth noting that there are a few different trails that lead up the mountain—some longer, steeper, and more rugged—but we opted for the main, most accessible route, and that probably contributed to how easy and enjoyable the hike was.
At the top, the world opened up in the most jaw-dropping way. We could see Napoli sprawling in one direction, and a patchwork of towns and coastline stretching out on the other. It felt like we were on the roof of southern Italy.
And then there was the crater. Majestic, vast, otherworldly. Coming from Costa Rica, we’re no strangers to volcanoes—but there’s something about Vesuvius, with its history and hush, that feels... different. Quieter. Heavier.
Mount Vesuvius is still an active volcano. In fact, it’s considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, not because it’s constantly erupting (it’s not), but because over 3 million people live in the surrounding area, including the city of Naples. That makes it the most densely populated volcanic region in the world.
Even though it’s been quiet for over 80 years, scientists fully expect Vesuvius to erupt again—it’s just a matter of when. That’s why there are detailed emergency plans in place for evacuation zones around the volcano.
So yes, while it may look peaceful and majestic now (especially with people in dresses taking selfies at the crater), Vesuvius is very much alive—just resting.
And as if the universe was still smiling down on us, the same bus driver who brought us up was waiting at the base when we returned—ready to make the final trip of the day back to Pompeii. Golden hour light, volcano dust on our shoes, and that lovely kind of silence that comes after a perfect adventure —that’s until we got to the train station of course.
Know before you go
For Pompeii you can buy your ticket at the site, there is no website that I could find for it even though I wanted to. Good luck that I didn’t purchase it through a third party because the date we were there was actually free and it didn’t seem like a specially busy day. We did rent the audio guide to know what we were seeing and to learn about the history of the site. The place is enormous, so you will need to get there early in the morning to be able to explore the site and then get on your way to Vesuvius —or you could do it the other way around.
For Vesuvius you do need to get your tickets in advance since there is a scheduled maximum capacity. You cannot purchase your ticket at the park. Here is the official website: https://www.parconazionaledelvesuvio.it/en/visit-the-park/
Make sure you bring enough water, snacks and even a packed lunch. The sun is pretty heavy and you will be doing a lot of walking+hiking. It will be a looong (but exciting) day!