Pompeii, The Amalfi Coast, and the place where pizza was invented — all in one day? You won’t be in any one location for long, but it is possible. Here’s how we did it.
The husband and I knew it was going to be tight to see everything on our list in the one day we had in and around Naples. If you have more time than we did, it’s possible for you to do all of this on your own.
We decided that time was so tight, we needed a guide to be able to make it all happen.
We found the perfect fit through Rudy’s Touring Service. Like our other tours, our guide met us outside the cruise terminal. He was easy to find. We loaded up and headed out of the port area.
We headed south of Naples about 90-minutes to the Amalfi Coast. It’s called one of the most beautiful drives in the world, and it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My pictures don’t do it justice!
We ended up in the beautiful towns of Sorrento and Positano. Our driver gave us time to explore the area and walk down to the water. The one disappointment I have is that I didn’t get any great photos of the homes built on the cliffs. It’s what I think of when I envision the Amalfi Coast. If it’s something you want to do, I believe you’ll need to hire someone to take you out on the water. That’s the only way I could see to get the shots. It wasn’t included in our tour and we didn’t have time to find out if it was an option.
Walk In Our Shoes: It’s easy to get to the ocean. Once you get into town, just start walking. It slopes downward. Follow the slope and you’ll end up somewhere you can see the water.
If any of this looks familiar, you may remember it from scenes in the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Scenes from the 2017 blockbuster movie “Wonder Woman” were also shot there.
After exploring the area for about an hour, we loaded back into the van to head back to Naples for lunch.
Our group split up to explore Naples and get lunch. After walking around a little bit, we ended up at a little restaurant hidden away from the street.
If you didn’t know, Naples is the birthplace of Pizza. We obviously didn’t have trouble choosing what we would order for lunch! And IT. WAS. AMAZING.
The crust was fluffy, light and fresh. The toppings fresh and amazing. And as my husband says, we “just can’t get the same type of pizza here at home!”
After exploring Naples for several hours, we met back at the van to share experiences. Part of our group headed toward the ocean. They wanted to have lunch with a view. Unfortunately they apparently didn’t find the right restaurant because they didn’t enjoy what they’d ordered. I’ll admit we taunted them a little saying that we’d probably just enjoyed the best pizza of our lives!
After lunch the plan was Pompeii. The husband was crazy excited to see it. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But I walked away with a new appreciation for what happened in the city centuries ago.
As you can see in the picture above, Mt. Vesuvius still stands, providing an ominous backdrop. We were told that when the volcano erupted, the force blew off two-thirds of the mountain. A third is all that remains … and it is still huge!! I can’t even comprehend how tall Mt. Vesuvius was in all its glory.
As soon as we arrived in Pompeii, our driver hired a guide to take us through the ruins. He is an archaeologist and was fantastic!
Travel Tip: If you are planning a trip to Pompeii, I would recommend hiring a guide. You will end up getting so much more out of your trip. If a guide isn’t in your budget, take the time to download a free audio tour and map.
As we walked, our guide explained what life was like for the people who called Pompeii home. He answered all of our questions and told us all kinds of stories and other things that I would’ve missed.
Here’s an example, look at the image painted on the floor of this ancient building.
My thought when I first saw the building was “wow, the people who lived here were really talented.” But we learned that the image wasn’t just for decoration. Can you see what the figures are doing? Our guide told us they are boxing because this building used to be a gym. The people who lived here used pictures and drawings like this to show others what was inside different buildings.
Think about why they did this for a second. It’s something I never even considered.
According to our guide, Pompeii was a port city. Sailors from all over the place sailed to Pompeii to trade and deliver supplies. Because they sailed from all over, they also spoke different languages. The pictures helped everyone in the city communicate. BRILLIANT!!
Archaeologists say they are still finding buildings and other possessions as they dig in Pompeii.
Some of the more amazing things they’ve found also show how quickly Mt. Vesuvius erupted and the strength of that eruption.
The perfectly preserved bodies of a man, dog, and a baby are on display for visitors to see. It’s amazing, but I also found it incredibly heartbreaking, knowing how the victims died.
Walk In Our Shoes: Want to explore Pompeii? Check out this interactive map. You can even see the buildings and where each one is located here.
From the amazing views on the Amalfi Coast to the delicious pizza and the history at Pompeii, this is a tour I recommend, and a day I’ll never forget!