Mount Vesuvius

Access

From the motorway exits of Ercolano or Torre del Greco, follow the brown (tourist) signs indicating 'Vesuvius'. The road climbs first between dwellings, then into the forests of the park for a dozen kilometres, passing the Observatory and reaching a large car park.

Introduction

This is a short walk for purely naturalistic and scenic purposes. There are no difficulties whatsoever and you can tackle the few minutes of ascent even with non-technical footwear, such as sandals or city shoes. However, trainers are recommended due to the gravel and (very) dusty ground.

Description

At the end of the asphalt road is a large car park, probably for a fee, as is the entrance to the last section of the path, the one leading to the crater. Personally, I was lucky not to have to pay because I happened to be there on the occasion of a strike by the 91 workers of the cooperative 'Vesuvio, Natura e Lavoro', which at that time was managing maintenance and various services on behalf of the park authority and to which, it seems, they did not want to renew the concession. The ascent of the last 100 metres of difference in height leading to the crater is easy and the photos testify to the width of the path, on which service personnel cars also pass. The width of the crater is impressive and for someone who, like me, has never seen a volcano before, the surprise at such enormity is remarkable. In addition, the view of the Gulf of Naples is grandiose and unforgettable, although as I went there almost at sunset, the evening mist did not allow a perfect view of a panorama stretching from Capri to Ischia. Warning: this is not a very 'intimate' excursion. According to press sources, the number of visitors to the site last year was 460,000, with a daily average of more than 1,800 hikers per day, from all over the world. That is why I consider myself lucky to have happened to be up there around 4.30 p.m. (access closes at 5 p.m.) so that almost all the tourists who go up by bus had already returned.