Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius, Italy

The Gulf of Naples (Italian: Golfo di Napoli) is a bay located on the southwest coast of Italy (Metropolitan Naples, Campania Region), about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) wide. It leads to the Mediterranean Sea to the west. It is famous for its beautiful scenery and is also a famous tourist area. There are steep volcanic peaks along the coast of the Bay of Naples, including active volcanoes such as Vesuvius and the ruins of the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. At the entrance of the bay are scenic spots such as Capri Island, Ischia Island and Procida Island. It is said that the Roman emperor Caligula built a bridge of boats across the bay and rode across it in a chariot while wearing the armor of Alexander the Great.
© ezypix/Getty Images