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Bonus Day — Pompei & the Amalfi Coast
Bonus Day — Pompei & the Amalfi Coast
With the main tour officially complete, we added one more adventure: a bonus day to Pompei and the Amalfi Coast (with time in Positano). We've always been fascinated by Pompei (and Mount Vesuvius in the background image above)—and we just couldn’t be that close and not see it.
The weather matched the pace—cloudy most of the day, rainy on the coast, and then a little sunshine right at the end.
It was a long day, but a memorable final chapter in southern Italy.
Rome → Pompei → Positano — our bonus day route
Pompei, up close — a quiet, human reminder.
Where the Day Began—Piazza del Popolo.
Where the Day Began—Piazza del Popolo.
Our tour group met in Piazza del Popolo before heading out. Rome was still pretty quiet, but the setting didn’t feel like a “starting point” at all—just another beautiful corner of the city.
The Flaminio Obelisk — our Piazza del Popolo meeting point
Piazza del Popolo’s “Twin Churches” — Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto.
Trip at a Glance
Trip at a Glance
Route: Rome → Pompei → Positano → Rome (late)
Pace: Long day
Local guide: Yes (Pompei)
Pompei — The Place We Couldn’t Skip
Pompei — The Place We Couldn’t Skip
A wide look at Pompei — the amphitheater is off to the left
Pompei was the main reason we added this bonus day. Even under a mostly cloudy sky, walking the streets made it feel real—like a city you can still read, not just ruins.
The practical details stayed with us as much as the big sights: water, gathering places, and reminders that this was once everyday life.
Everyday Pompei: a street-side snack bar counter (a thermopolium)
Another quiet, human reminder.
Pompei was built for real life — even the water system was thoughtfully designed
Positano — A Wet Welcome
Positano — A Wet Welcome
Positano greeted us with rain for most of our stop—so we kept moving, ducked under awnings, and (yes) got turned around for a bit. Even in the drizzle, it was lively and busy in that very Positano way.
And then, near the end, the clouds finally broke. We grabbed a few beautiful photos and shared our last gelato of the trip—one of those small moments that felt like the perfect closing note.
Positano in motion — rain and all.
Looking up at Positano from Spiaggia Grande — even in the rain, it’s still Positano.
Some of the “sidewalks” were basically the road — cars and pedestrians sharing the same narrow space
Our last gelato in Italy.
A Long Day, a Great Epilogue
A Long Day, a Great Epilogue
This bonus day was a lot—big miles, two unforgettable stops, and plenty of “go-go-go.” Pompei gave us the history we’d always wanted to see, and Positano gave us one last slice of coastal Italy (rain and all). And then there were the steps. In the short time we were in Positano, our watch logged 52 flights of stairs—up, down, and up again.
By the time we got back to Rome, we were tired in the best way—but grateful we said yes to one more day.
One more reminder that no matter where you go in Italy seeing really is believing.
One more reminder that no matter where you go in Italy seeing really is believing.
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