The lovely holiday town of Sorrento has beautiful architecture and a scenic main square with quaint cafes, restaurants and shops. On the Circumvesuviana rail line it can be easily reached from Naples. It is also an ideal base for visiting Pompeii, Herculaneum and the island of Capri. On August 24, 79 AD, the city of Pompeii located near Naples was destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 16,000 people were killed. Lava and ash blanketed the city but preserved its buildings which can be seen by visitors today. Pompeii offers a unique glimpse into the past and is like nowhere else on earth.