Walking into the Heart of Southern Italy's Volcanoes: Mount Vesuvius
🌋 Into the Heart of the Volcano | The Drama and Tenderness of Southern Italy
I thought I came to Italy for pizza and the coastline,
But what truly captivated me in the end was a fire-breathing mountain—Mount Vesuvius.
Starting from Naples, the journey winds upward,
With deep blue bays outside the window and increasingly barren volcanic landscapes.
Reaching the summit, waves of heat mixed with the scent of sulfur greet you,
The crater resembles a sleeping giant—silent yet powerful.
The wind whispers past your ears, like murmurs from ancient Rome.
At its foot lies the ancient city of Pompeii,
A moment frozen in time after a volcanic eruption.
Streets, taverns, baths, frescoes—everything remains,
As if time had merely paused, waiting for us to listen.
Standing amidst the ruins, gazing at Vesuvius in the distance,
I couldn’t help but ask myself repeatedly:
"If everything collapsed in the next second, what would I leave behind?"
On Sicily’s Mount Etna,
I donned hiking boots and a helmet, boarding a jeep to enter the "black planet."
The ground here is black, the wind fierce,
Every piece of lava feels like a heartbeat of the Earth.
Climbing higher, even the coastline becomes a distant memory,
Only the steaming crater reminds me—
This is the origin of life, and perhaps a reflection of something deep within us.
🧭 Travel Itinerary (Save for Later):
✅ Depart from Naples → Mount Vesuvius → Pompeii
✅ Depart from Catania → Mount Etna Cable Car + Volcano Jeep Tour + Stroll in Taormina
✅ It’s recommended to book a volcano guide in advance for both safety and an enhanced experience!
Are volcanoes cold and unfeeling?
I think they are passionate and authentic, like those moments in travel that strike straight to the heart.
Thank you, Southern Italy, for letting me embark on a journey to the Earth’s core,
And redefine the meaning of "awe."
🧳 If you’re tired of overcrowded tourist hotspots,
Come to the foot of a volcano,
Listen to the silence and roar of millennia past,
And find warmth and strength in the scorching land.