We took a day trip from Naples to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.  We took a taxi from the Ercolano (Herculaneum) train station to the visitor's station.  We hiked the rest of the way up.   

It was interesting to see the crater from the 79 A.D. eruption that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.  Even though the day was somewhat cloudy, the view from the summit was incredible.  I remembered the many times I saw Mount Vesuvius in my viewfinder while taking photos as far away as Capri. 

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Dawn view of Mount Vesuvius from the port of Naples while on the ferry from Palermo.

The crater from the 79 A.D. eruption.

 

The train back to Naples

Steam venting from cracks.