Exploring the Amalfi Coast - Navigating Naples
Dec 23, 2025, to Jan 3, 2026 - Naples and the Amalfi Coast
We took a 10-day trip to Naples and the Amalfi Coast over the holidays. The main focus of the trip for us was Pompeii (which we didn’t see til the last day) and Herculaneum. But we ended up really enjoying the rest of the trip, and all of lemons!
This is our first attempt at using a blog for a trip. It is our intention to report on our travels more or less regularly, but for this trip, because it is already over, we can share about our experiences by theme, rather than chronologically.
I hope you enjoy this and our other upcoming journeys with us.
Navigating Naples
We spent several days in and around the city of Naples. In addition to the walking and museum tours offered by our tour leaders, we spent part of Christmas eve wandering near our hotel, across from the Castillo d'Ovo. We loved seeing the narrow streets and balconies, and stopping in little shops along the way as people prepared for their Christmas eve feast.
Bay of Naples and Castle d'Ovo from our balcony.
Lunch at a charming place near the castle...lots of rain coming down! Amazing prawn appetizer.
View from the balcony of the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius
Our tour of Naples included a visit to the Archeological Museum of Naples, which is apparently the main repository of artwork recovered from Pompeii and Herculaneum (more on the ruins in another post).
Mosaics and paintings taken from Pompeii.
Pre-eruption mosaic from Pompeii: the mountain is Vesuvius before the top blew off, the snake is a fertility symbol and the guy with all the baubles is Dionysius dressed in grapes.
Furniture from Herculaneum- a bed, table and cabinet and other objects, including even papyrus scrolls. Because Herculaneum was buried in a few seconds, with a flow of hot lava and gas, there was no oxygen to feed fire, so wood was charred, but not consumed. As a result, furniture was recovered in the excavations.
Painting of a domestic scene, with a table that was recovered from the same room.
Continuing our walking tour of Naples, we enjoyed walking through the Galleria, seeing shoppers enjoying the holiday, and tasting delicious local pastry. We also made a foray on our own to the famous Christmas street, where we saw shop after shop offering characters from the Nativity, as well as soccer heroes and other saints. We saw many family (the crowd was dense!) picking up new pieces for their home nativities.
Huge outdoor shopping/restaurant gallery in downtown Naples.
So many charming narrow streets.
Christmas Eve crowds out enjoying the season.
Our walk ended up at the impressive Cathedral of Naples, known as il Duomo.
Naples Duomo
And then we returned to our boat to start our cruise around the Bay of Naples.
The Bay and Port with Vesuvious loomming large.
Thank you for the blessing Ruth and Cheryl!!!
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos and fascinating facts thanks so much Ruth and Cheryl Jackie G
ReplyDeleteDid you buy more dolls, Ruth?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. It is amazing that they were able to salvage papyrus as well as the other furniture. I learned something new. I was wondering about the dolls too, Ruth.
ReplyDeleteSeems a wonderful trip as always!~Suzi
ReplyDeleteGreat Coverage of Trip
ReplyDeleteMore WOW! Question .. do you have a photo .. close up of the alter of Duomo ..
ReplyDeleteAunt Ruth did you make a purchase of a doll from one of the shops?
You don’t need to reply to my question, but I am wondering what the bits of red are on that appetizer plate of prawns. Looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteit was very interesting to read why/how furniture has been recovered from the ruins after Vesuvius blew its top! Italian architecture is fascinating! Such attention to detail!