nature
Italy's Live Volcanoes
The smoking, sleeping, and very much active volcanoes you can actually stand on — with the right shoes and the right guide.
Curatorial note
Etna is the one you can ski in the morning and toast marshmallows on at lunch; Vesuvius is the day trip from Naples that puts the Pompeii story in perspective. Stromboli is the real adventure — a climb to a cone that performs every twenty minutes — and Pantelleria is a volcanic island that bottles its own wind.
Island · Sicilia
Pantelleria
The elsewhere island — a volcanic rock between Sicily and Tunisia, with stone houses (dammusi), capers, a volcanic lake, and the wind. Worth a few days for the wild and the capers.
Island · Sicilia
Stromboli
The most dramatic of the Aeolian Islands — a volcano that erupts every 20 minutes, with a guided hike to the summit at dusk. Worth a night for the eruptions, if you're not afraid of the climb.
Archaeological Site · Campania
Pompeii
Pompeii is worth a full half-day from Naples. Go early, bring water and a hat — there is little shade. Herculaneum is smaller, better preserved, and less crowded; do both if you can.
Town · Campania
Naples
Naples is worth two nights and rewards the traveler who doesn't need things tidy. It is the gateway to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and Capri, and it has the best pizza in Italy. Skip it only if you need order and calm.
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