9. Pompeii and Vesuvius Full-Day Skip-the-Line Tour from Naples
Discover Pompeii, the city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 CE during this full-day tour with a skip-the-line ticket option. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the region before exploring the crater of the mountain which caused the event itself.
Pompeii will serve as a wondrous time capsule enabling you to visit the distant past during this trip by car. Popular attractions to look forward to at this UNESCO World Heritage Site include the Villa dei Misteri, the Temple of Apollo, and the Basilica.
Several other treasures await your discovery in the ancient city such as surprisingly detailed frescoes, including one of the Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great. Bathhouses, villas built by wealthy citizens, bakeries, and streets will give you a glimpse of the lives of its residents.
Next comes a visit to a factory to learn how the region’s exquisite cameos are produced. These detailed pendants are manufactured using sea coral, set against a contrasting background, and framed with precious metals. (Torre del Greco in Naples is actually considered the world’s center of the craft.)
Your next stop during this tour will be a restaurant in Pompeii before traveling to Vesuvius, the volcano which destroyed the historic city. Its crater is an immensely popular attraction owing to its unique history and the fact that it is one of two active volcanoes on mainland Europe.
It is an excellent opportunity to bask in nature and history, survey panoramic views and take several pictures. The last leg of your tour ended, you will be transported back to your pick-up point as you ponder on a trip that is an ideal blend of the past and the present.