Posted by Karbo
We took the fast train from Rome to Naples, and then the local train (the Circumvesuviana line) from Naples to Pompeii. For those wanting to make the day trip from Romes to Pompeii without using a tour company, this was a really straightforward way of getting there! The Circumvesuviana train has a stop right outside the entrance of the Pompeii ruins.
Pompeii is an ancient Roman town that was destroyed by the eruption of Mt.Vesuvius in 79 AD and preserved under layers of ash. We opted not to take a guided tour but in hindsight, we think it would be a good idea to go with a guide. It's impossible to cover everything in a day, especially with the hot sun beating down.
We spent the remainder of the day in Naples, the birthplace of pizza. Apparently, per the Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana, a long list of requirements must be met for a pizza to be authenticated as true Neopolitan (we checked, and a couple of Vancouver pizzerias made the cut). Unlike your typical Pizza Hut or Panago pizza, a Neopolitan pizza has a thin, slightly bitter crust, a soupy middle, and is easy on the toppings.
There were pizzerias everywhere and we ended up at Pizzeria Di Matteo. The pizza was cheesy and cheesy - just what we were looking for!
There were pizzerias everywhere and we ended up at Pizzeria Di Matteo. The pizza was cheesy and cheesy - just what we were looking for!
We walked along the Via dei Tribunali, which is located in the historic centre of Naples. We'd read that Naples is a city of extremes and this street felt like one of them - grimy, crowded, and full of crazy motorists.
It was a jam-packed day in Pompeii and Naples. We'd read in a guidebook that Italy gets more 'Italian' as you head further south. We'd love to spend more time in the southern part of Italy but that will have to wait until our next trip!