Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii. Now and Then.

Mt. Vesuvius with the ruins of Pompeii in the foreground.

This is what Mt Vesuvius would have looked like before it erupted and buried the beautiful and rich Roman city of Pompeii.

What used to be the centre of Pompeii's political and domestic life. The major courtyard/piazza - contained the meat and fish market, governmental offices and official buildings. 

Inside Vesuvius! This is the crater - this photograph does not capture how big it is - it really just shows a little bit of one of the sides - but it is huge - you could fit a couple of houses at least inside.

This is the view from the top! The Bay of Naples is a sprawling metropolitan with skyscrapers! In Rome there are no really tall buildings because legally nothing can be higher than the roof of St Peters Basilica! Also in the distance you can just about make out the Islands of Procida and Ischia. In the other direction is the Isle of Capri (but you can't see it on here unfortunately!) 

I'll probably post more pictures, I'm finding them pretty inspirational at the moment!