At noon on August 24, 79 A.D the peak of Mount Vesuvius exploded sending a giant cloud of stones, ash and volcanic gases 21 miles / 33 km high and spewed molten rock at 100,000 times the thermal energy released by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed by a Pyroclastic surge and buried under tens of metres of tephra. Accounts of the eruption were well document from an eyewitness to the eruption, Pliny the Younger, a Roman administrator and poet who was nearby at the time of the eruption and survived to tell the tale.
Mt Vesuvius has erupted many times since 79 A.D and it is the only volcano on Europe’s mainland to have erupted in the last hundred years. It is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because 3,000,000 people live near enough to be affected by an eruption with at least 600,000 in the danger zone. It is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world.
Where is Mt Vesuvius and Pompeii?
Mt Vesuvius is located in the Campania region of Italy about 150 miles / 241 km south of Rome and just a 40 minute drive from Naples and 1 hours drive from Sorrento.
Pompeii is a 30 minute drive from Naples and a 40 minute drive from Sorrento.
How do you get to Mt Vesuvius and Pompeii
Both can be reached easily by car via the A3/E45 from Naples or the SS145 and the A3/E45 from Sorrento.
Via train from Naples the most direct route to Mt Vesuvius is to start from Napoli Centrale train station (Piazza Garibaldi) and take the Circumvesuviana train line (that goes to Sorrento) and get off at the Ercolano Scavi station. From here you can travel to the Mt Vesuvius crater area on the shuttle bus called the Vesuvio Express.
Via train from Naples to Pompeii take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompei Scavi-Villa Misteri station. This is the closest station to the ruins and is just a short walk to the entrance.
Via train from Sorrento take the Circumvesuviana train which stops at Pompeii Scavi directly across the street from the Porta Marina entrance to the ancient city. The trip takes about 45 minutes and tickets can be purchased at the station in Sorrento.
There’s no direct train from Pompeii to Mt Vesuvius and vice versa but you can take a bus there.
Trains and buses are frequent especially during peak times in July and August but be warned, in the summer the trains can be hot and crowded. All part of the fun of the Italian experience!
Can you climb Mt Vesuvius?
Yes! Amazingly this is one of the few active volcanoes in the world that is easily accessible and can be climbed right up to and around the crater!
Check out the official website for more information and to book tickets Vesuvius National Park. The average time to hike to the crater, around it and back down is 2-3 hrs depending on physical ability and how fast you go. The route is well marked and trailed.
Tickets cost from £9 / €10 / $11 just to climb Mt Vesuvius however there are tour options which also include entry into Pompeii, audio guides and transfers from around £34 / €40 / $46.
Tickets can be booked on the official site Vesuvius National Park as well as Get Your Guide where there are a number of transfer, guided and unguided options to choose from.
Visiting Pompeii
Pompeii is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world and its ruins cover around 440,000 square meters, a vast area that would take at least three full days to explore it completely.
For a short visit to the site allow at least 2 hours but on average 4-5 hours is required to explore the site properly depending of course on your pace and interests.
Pompeii was an entire buried city with public squares, temples, baths, buildings, private villas and shops. The area gives you a fantastic insight into Roman life, frozen in time as it was buried under tens of metres of volcanic ash and pumice.
You are free to wander at your own pace and audio guides are available from the entrances for €10 or for a truly informative experience a tour guide can be booked from €10 and often the guide is a qualified archaeologist!
Check out Get Your Guide for options on entrance tickets and tours.
