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| View of Mt. Vesuvius from our Airbnb |
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| Herculaneum Archaeological Park |
View looking down into the archaeological site:
We took a guided tour with an archaeologist who provided excellent comparisons of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Besides learning the differences in how these sites were affected by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, we also learned how Herculaneum had been a high-end resort area with lovely villas and lots of wine bars!
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| Villa |
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| Mosaic floor |
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| Frescoes |
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Wine bar |
One of the major differences between Pompeii and Herculaneum is the manner in which the people died.
In Pompeii the people were smothered by ash and pumice stones, with some bodies ending up entombed in casts by calcified ash.
In Herculaneum, only skeletons remained. Scientists believe that the intense heat (exceeding 400-500℃.) from the eruption caused thermal shock which killed the people instantly. Later, hot ash would preserve the skeletons of the victims. Around 300 skeletons were found near the shore, huddled in boat houses. They were probably trying to escape via the Bay of Naples, but the heat got to them quicker than they anticipated.
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| Skeletons |
Another day we walked around Naples a little. Situated in the heart of the Piazza Municipio is this majestic fountain featuring the god Neptune surrounded by nymphs, satyrs, and seahorses.
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| Neptune’s Fountain |
Nearby is a 13th century, medieval fortress with majestic towers and a beautifully decorated Triumphal Arch entrance.
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| Castel Nuovo (New Castle) |
We walked a bit further to the city’s largest public square, the Piazza del Plebiscito. It is surrounded by an impressive 17th century Royal Palace and the San Francesco di Paola Church.
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| Royal Palace |
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| San Francesco di Paola Church |
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| Interior of San Francesco di Paola Church |
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| View of Mt. Vesuvius from Piazza del Plebiscito |
We visited the National Archaeological Museum of Naples to see some of the Roman artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
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| National Archaeological Museum of Naples |
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| National Archaeological Museum of Naples |
Through beautiful paintings and frescoes we could get a better understanding of the people who lived in Herculaneum. For example, this picture with busts of young women holding a wax tablet and a stylus.
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| "Busts of young women" Herculaneum, 45-79 AD |
An example of daily life can be seen in paintings of the food they ate, for example this painting of two figs on a window sill and a piece of bread.
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| "Still-life" Herculaneum, 45-79 AD |
Herculaneum was named after the mythical Greek god, Hercules.
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| "Bust of Herakles: Crowned Herakles bearing the club inside a vegetal wreath" Herculaneum, 45-79 AD |
A trip to Naples would not be complete without some local food. A good friend of mine from France suggested that we visit this beautiful, old dessert shop to try some traditional treats!
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| Scaturchio |
Scaturchio: Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore, 19, 80134 Napoli NA, Italy
Per my friend's suggestions, we tried la pastiera, sfogliatella and babà au rhum!
Click HERE to drool over more of their yummy desserts!
There's much more to see in Naples but we're moving on to our next destination.... ⛴️