By: Stephanie and Corinne
Hike to Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is an immensely powerful volcano that is off the bay of Naples. This volcano is one of the most dangerous due to it still being active and the tremendous amount of people surrounding it. The volcano has erupted over fifty times and is due for another volcanic eruption anytime soon. The famous eruption buried the ancient city of Pompeii, and the city’s ruins can still be seen at an archaeological park close to Sorrento. Vesuvius is part of the Campanian Volcanic Arc that stretches along the Eurasian and African tectonic plates. Its previous eruptions have destroyed countless of villages and thousands of lives. Despite its dangerousness, there are currently three million people who live within twenty miles of the volcano, and the number of inhabitants is constantly increasing. Some earthquakes have occurred in the area within the past few years, meaning that anytime soon another eruption will occur, making this the most powerful volcano on Earth.
After hearing this information, I knew it was necessary to visit. Traveling to Mt. Vesuvius can be a bit of a process. First, you must go to the Sorrento Train Station, located near the Piazza Giovanni Battista de Curtis. There you can buy your tickets, which cost 2,40 euros for a one-way ticket. There you take the train to the stop Pompeii Scavi, which is about a 45-minute ride. This same stop will take you to visit Pompeii as well. The train can be a bit crowded so you may have to stand for a while, but usually you are able to sit when riding from the Sorrento stop. The train's schedule can be found online or at the train station so make sure to plan accordingly.
Image of the Sorrento Train Station
After you arrive at Pompeii Scavi you can take a bus from the train station to Mount Vesuvius. The bus costs 3,10 euro and you must pay on the bus with exact cash so make sure to come prepared. The bus ride takes approximately 3o minutes and leaves you right at the start of the hike to the crater of Mt. Vesuvius.
Bus Schedule (Subject to Change)
Once you arrive at the start of the hike there are a series of vendors, a small store with food and drinks, and a bathroom. At the start of the hike there are workers who check your tickets before entering. Make sure you buy your tickets in advance and online. You must arrive at the time your ticket states. The website to buy your tickets can be found on the button below. From there it is a about a 30-minute hike. The hike is steep so make sure to wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Also, remember to bring sunscreen and a hat, as well as water. The temperature is cooler at that elevation making the hike more manageable.
Images of the Hike
Once you get to the top, you see an astonishing view of the city. You can see islands in the distance, some that were formed by Mt. Vesuvius. From the peak of the mountain, many villages can be seen scattered all along the coast. The trip was worth it just from the breathtaking views we were able to see.
Views from the top of Mt. Vesuvius
The crater of Mt. Vesuvius was very deep and was filled with an abundance of rocks. You could not see anything at the bottom of the crater, only rocks and dirt. However, you can see some steam coming from the volcano, which was extremely exciting to see. The amazing thing about this hiking trail, is that it allows you to walk all around the entire crater, allowing you to see the crater from all the angles. It was interesting to see that some of the crater was completely smooth and other parts were rocky. This is due to the lava from the volcano contacting specific areas of the crater.
Image of the Crater of Mt. Vesuvius
Another interesting aspect of the hike was seeing the image of Madonna, which is the Virgin Mary, with baby Jesus on a rock next to the crater. This emphasizes how important religion is to the Italian culture. Many places in Italy display the Virgin or Saints to symbolize protection over the area. Another cool thing I saw along the crater was stacked up rocks. This is common in other hiking trails as well, but I was surprised to see it here too. Hikers will stack up rocks to leave their mark. In addition, there is a small shop that serves food and drinks with a view. The shop was selling a lot of volcanic jewelry and objects made up of diverse types of rocks. Jewelry is of great abundance in this area because of the many different explosions of Mt. Vesuvius. Due to this people began converting the lava into jewelry, specifically lava cameos. The shop is a wonderful place to get some souvenirs of your hike!
Image of the Virgin Mary, Stacked Rocks, and the Shop Located by the Crater
The walk back down was slightly slippery, so you should take extra precaution. To get back to Sorrento you go the same way you came: ride the bus to the train station then take the train to the stop called, "Sorrento". On our way back we did have to wait an hour for the train to arrive so make sure you give yourself extra buffer time while doing this trip. This excursion took most of the day, but it was worth it! The views of both the crater and Sorrento were phenomenal! I highly recommend this excursion during your time in Sorrento.
Written: July 12, 2022
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