Views of Vesuvius (and Other Sights)
Long weekend in the Bay of Naples
Written by Iolo
Creative Intern at VBAT
Two weeks ago I took a break from Amsterdam and went on a long weekend to Naples. Here is a collection of some of my favourite sketches and pictures made during my time under the shadow of Vesuvius.
Naples was loud, busy and dirty; and it was alive. It felt like anything goes. Crossing the road in Naples requires the courage to walk into the middle of a motor-maelstrom and pray as mopeds and cars speed about in a chaos of horns and near misses.
I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much amazing food in such a short amount of time. A Michelin star pizza at Starita cost me only five euros. With a bottle of beer bought from a shop, opened by the cashier and drank on the street (preferably at safe distant from traffic); it was impossible not to find somewhere excellent to eat.
Herculaneum was engulfed in pyroclastic-flow from erupting Vesuvius, keeping it almost perfectly preserved. Smaller than Pompeii, it was home to the Roman upper-class who are believed to have been watching a theatrical play at the time of eruption.
It was actually quite astounding how much of Herculaneum remained intact and was open to the public. In most buildings the mosaic tiles were exposed and walked on. Even while open to the elements, the wall frescos have retained their colour. Some of the painted walls were almost garish in their saturation of bright yellows, reds and pinks. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so close to a piece of ancient history- it was not hard to imagine what it must have been like to live there some 2000 years ago.
Ascending the steep cobble-stone steps to the mountain-top, Capri was awash with bright bursts of lemon and orange, popping against the sun-baked garden terraces. Every garden had its own small grove. Looking back out across the azure bay, Vesuvius sat motionless and ever-present on the horizon.
The steep sided cliffs in Sorrento fall away to the sea where the narrow streets open onto a wide-sweeping panorama of the bay. Descending down the cliff-side, I settled in a bar by the water’s edge to watch the sunset (and was charged €7 for one beer).
Thanks to my travel pals for waiting for me whilst I sketched and providing all the quality photos. Naples is a very cool place to visit — I recommend.
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written by Iolo Cowell, Creative Intern at VBAT
edited by Connie Fluhme, PR at VBAT
