Pompeii

I wasn't too excited about visiting Pompeii; I had paid attention during art history class, but it sounded less than wonderful surrounded with Naple's sprawl and overrun with 1. 5 million tourists a year.

But an early morning visit in the off-season, staying in the renovated surrounding town, made it easy to imagine a vibrant city in the shadow of Vesuvius.

Pompeii street view

A remarkably large and well- preserved city, Pompeii, of course, deserves its reputation.

And following up with a visit to the National Museum in Naples to view the best mosaics provided a rare glimpse into life in a Roman city centuries ago.