Campania is only three hours away by bus, and we made the most of it by visiting Caserta, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Amalfi. Needless to say, we were busy!
Our first stop was the Palace of Caserta. The palace was built in the 18th century for the Bourbon kings. The building’s architecture was inspired by the Palace of Versailles, and by volume, is the largest royal residence in the world.
Our afternoon was spent in Pompeii to see the ruins and learn about the ancient Roman way of life. Pompeii was buried in ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. It wasn’t until the mid 1700s (the same time as the construction of the Royal Palace), that excavations of the site began. The buildings are well persevered due to the lack of oxygen after being buried, and it’s still possible to see the original frescos that covered the walls of shops and in people’s homes.
We then made our way to our hotel in Sorrento, stopping along the way for some spectacular views, before having a meal together.
Our next day was spent on a boat tour of the coast and an afternoon in Amalfi – this will be featured on the next blog.