The Millers Do Italy

Tuesday we took it easy, dropping down just two stops on the Circumvesuviana to the port town of Sorrento for some shopping, some eating, and some sightseeing.

Here Debra and Allison eat some phenomenal Campanian apricots, with Vesuvius in the background:

Monday saw us again head north around the bay on the Circumvesuviana train, stopping first at Herculaneum, then on to Naples.

Herculaneum is, like Pompeii, a first-century AD city buried by the eruption of Vesuvius. Unlike Pompeii, much of the decorations to the houses and buildings have been left intact, due to its more recent discovery. Typical of what's there is this fresco from the building that housed the Augustali, cult devoted to the divinity of the Roman emperors:

On from Herculaneum, we continued to Naples, chaotic but beautiful city in Vesuvius' shadow. The main attraction was the National Archaeological Museum, which houses the treasures recovered from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other local sites. Here's Allison with a statue of a pig from Pompeii:

After all that history, we went for something slightly more modern -- pizzas from Da Michele, serving up pizzas in Naples since 1873, and self-proclaimed 'original pizzeria.'

It was a long walk there from the museum...

...but it was worth it:

First thing Sunday was an excursion to Pompeii, most famous of Vesuvius' victims. The crowds were not bad, given the day, date, and weather, but it's a pretty busy site nonetheless.

Featured, then, is Debra, stuck going the wrong way to the top of the theater:

And here are the fantastic frescoes from the Villa dei Misteri, just outside the ancient city walls:

Four Millers are now home, and Julie and I are in Moiano, Umbria. Upcoming are photos and descriptions of our last week in Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples. First, a view from our balcony:

We made it here after some messing around at train stations on Saturday, and since then have seen Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the National Museum in Naples. We've still got Paestum, Cuma, and Capri on the itinerary. Soon we should have some more pictures up to peruse.

Have a happy and safe Fourth.