Naples, Herculaneum

Our morning tour was to see the Roman city of Herculaneum. It was destroyed by the same 79 AD Vesuvius eruption that destroyed Pompeii. However, rather than being smothered by 2000 degree ash, Herculaneum was covered in pyroclastic mud at around 500 degrees. It still instantly killed every living thing, however, the ocean flowed into the city as it sunk due to the eruption. The result was Roman cement! Excavation started in 1923 and is still ongoing. Since everything was encased in cement, murals, buildings and wood survived due to the lack of oxygen to fuel decay.

Entrance to Herculaneum

Description of preservation.

View of Herculaneum from terrace.

Wooden boat that was supposed to be used to evacuate people but was grounded due to unfavorable wind and tides.

what buried the city- Roman cement from water and mud .

Enteriing Herculaneum.

Looking back on the Roman road to where we entered.

The original beach of the city.

One of many streets of the city.

A Roman apartment.

Room

Central room in the home.

Another home’s main room.

Roman bedroom and bed!

Typical ceiling.

Entrance to the women’s bath.

Women’s bath and changing rooms. The floor was suspeneded above a heat source but the heat caused it to cave in.

Men’s bath.

Food sellers store front.

Cieiling of government building.

Government buildingi interior.

Information from Wikipedia on Naples

Since the late 20th century, Naples has had significant economic growth, helped by the construction of the Centro Direzionale business district and an advanced transportation network, which includes the Alta Velocità high-speed rail link to Rome and Salerno and an expanded subway network. Naples is the third-largest urban economy in Italy by GDP, after Milan and Rome.[13] The Port of Naples is one of the most important in Europe. In addition to commercial activities, it is home to NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

That’s Vesuvius in the distance.

Huge Fortress in the harbor:

Afternoon walking tour in the port area of Naples

Above the arched doorway.

Full view of the castle.

Shopping street.

Entrance to Galleria Umberto I.

Above doorway.

Two of the main hallways of the Umberto Galleria.

Zodiac symbols in the center with Marilynn looking for hers.

Gemini is Michael’s sign.

King Ferdinands gift to Naples when he had regained the crown of Naples.

Mt Vesuvius in the distance.

Our guides told us about increased seismic activity from Campi Flegrei, a volcano about 30 miles from Naples. Approximately 500,000 people live in and work in the Caldera. It is a danger to all those who live in and around Naples, Italy. On November 10, 2023, the day after we were in Naples, CNN ran a story entitled “Be prepared for all outcomes: Inside the saga of a super volcano that’s waking up.” Here’s another article on this volcano: <https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/naples-supervolcano-campi-flegrei-eruption-dangers-risk-caldera-italy-hot-zone-magma-pozzuoli-a7959046.htm l>