On our way to Sorrento we stopped in Naples for a few hours, then Pompeii for THE most fascinating tour. 

• Part ONE

• Part TWO

• Part THREE

• Part FOUR 

April 7, 2017 | DAY 3 -

We booked a 7:35 am train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale railway station, arriving at 8:45 am. A quick ride!

From here we hired a transfer from Sorrento Silver Star. Luisa set everything up through email and was extremely helpful, answered any questions I had and had great advice. Massimo, our driver, picked us up from the train station and we headed to the National Archaeological Museum.

Here we got to see the huge Farnese Hercules statue, and tons of Roman & Greek art.

Along with mosaics from Pompeii.

Once we finished meandering around the museum we went to a 100-year-old shopping mall.

Then we walked to Piazza Dante. 

Next Massimo drove us to one of his favorite pizza spots, Acquolina, by the water. 

Naples is considered the birthplace of pizza! 

After lunch Massimo drove us to Pompeii. A tour I'll never forget! All the historical facts are a little fuzzy, but I was completely blown away by details of Roman daily life during the 7th century BC.

Luisa with Sorrento Silver Star set up a private tour guide for us. She was AMAZING!! Highly, highly recommend a guide. 

A couple thousand years ago, Pompeii flooded its indented roadways daily to wash away the muck. Pedestrians used stepping-stones to hop across without getting wet. 

Incredible engineering went into constructing the steam-bath room, or caldarium.

Glass cases hold casts of the Pompeiians who were quickly suffocated during the massive eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Pompeii was completely buried under volcanic ash, and laid undiscovered for 1,500 years. 

After visiting Pompeii we hopped back in the car with Massimo and headed for our hotel in Sorrento, Hotel La Tonnarella! We arrived right at sunset, creating the most warm welcome. Can't wait to share Part THREE (Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello)!