Charleston Living Magazine Nov-Dec 2023

TRAVEL
A New Way to Pompeii
Discovering authenticity, fine dining and volcanic adventures
in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius
By KATIE MCELVEEN
As historic events go, the destruction of Pompeii, the Roman city that was
buried under more than 30 feet of ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, continues
to capture attention. I’d long wanted to visit, but had always hesitated; the logistics of planning
the full-day, round trip excursion from Rome or Naples just seemed too daunting to handle on my own.
That all changed in 2021, when hotel Habita 79 opened just a few
blocks from the entrance to the historic site. Habita 79 isn’t Pompeii’s
first hotel, but it is the city’s first luxury property and it’s a game
changer. Now, instead of coordinating a hurried in and out, visitors
can linger and explore not just the historic site, but the city and surrounding
attractions as well.
My visit started at Cantina del Vesuvio, a family-owned winery
that grows its grapes in the volcanic soil that forms the base of Mount
Vesuvius. After a quick tour of the barrel room, we moved out to
the terrace, where wine awaited alongside cheese, pasta and views of
the Gulf of Naples and the island of Capri on one side and Mount
Vesuvius on the other. From there, it was a quick drive to the hotel,
where a grand façade and elegant gardens stand in stark contrast to
the pizza parlors, campgrounds, ice cream shops and kiosks selling
tourist tchotchkes that line the street from the highway to the entrance
to the ruins.
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