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POMPEII, MT. VESUVIUS (Monte Vesuvio) AMALFI COAST (la Costiera Amalfitana) Day Four - Feb 22, 2005 * still working on individual image descriptions for this gallery ;-) POMPEII Burried by erupting Mount Vesivious in 79 A.D.-- The ruined city of Pompeii, now dug out from the layers of dried lava that once swept through it, brings to light the life of 19 centuries ago frozen in time.
MOUNT VESUVIUS A volcano that has struck terror in Campania, the towering, pitch-black Mt. Vesuvius looms menacingly over the Bay of Naples. August 24, A.D. 79, is the infamous date when Vesuvius burst forth and buried Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae under ash and volcanic mud. Vesuvius has erupted periodically ever since (thousands were killed in 1631): The last major spouting of lava occurred in the last century (it blew off the ring of its crater in 1906). The last spectacular eruption was on March 31, 1944.
AMALFI COAST From the 9th to the 11th century, the seafaring Republic of Amalfi rivaled the great maritime powers of Genoa and Venice. Its maritime code, the Tavole Amalfitane, was followed in the Mediterranean for centuries. But raids by Saracens and a flood in the 14th century devastated the city. Amalfi's power and influence weakened, until it rose again in modern times as the major resort on the Amalfi Drive. From its position at the slope of the steep Lattari hills, it overlooks the Bay of Salerno.
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We bought fabulous cameos and coins in Pompeii; posters of the Red Room and dancing fan statues at the Villa of Mysteries; books from the bookstore; and urns, volcanic rock, a hematite necklace, and a winged phallus ("so there will always be someone who gives a flying f*ck") from the vendors. 
We had lunch at the cafe in Pompeii and dinner at the Pizzeria Mediterranean in Amalfi Town. After dinner we drove through Minori and Maiori and up through mountains (where we hit SNOW!) heading back to Naples. |
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