Sullivan Ripley Creative problem solver

Photographs
Trip · 12–20 Oct 2026

Rome, Ischia and back

Nine days in October. Two nights in Rome at either end, five on Ischia, one in Sorrento, and a long afternoon in Pompeii.

days
9
places
19
photographs
78
in black and white
40
Day 1

Land, and a first walk

Mon 12 Oct · Colosseum · Via dei Fori Imperiali

The Colosseum's outer wall at dusk under a lilac sky, a street lamp in front and crowds below.The Colosseum at duskThe Colosseum's arches in black and white, crowds and street lamps at its base.Last light on the archesThe Vittoriano and church domes in silhouette against a pink sky, framed by out-of-focus leaves.The Vittoriano against the sunset
Day 2

The Colosseum, then the island

Tue 13 Oct · Monti · Via dei Fori Imperiali · The crossing

A narrow street in Monti with a tall yellow Hotel Grifo sign.Hotel Grifo, MontiTrajan's Forum and the domes of Santa Maria di Loreto framed between two umbrella-pine trunks.Trajan's Forum through the pinesA tuff headland with houses on top, seen across dark water from the hydrofoil.Headlands west of NaplesA car ferry crossing in front of the long silhouette of Capri.A ferry, and CapriAn Italian flag over the hydrofoil's white rail, a pale headland beyond.The flag on the stern railA pale cliffed headland catching late sun across the water.Late sun on the cliffs
Day 3

Forio, then the hills

Wed 14 Oct · The apartment, Forio · Soccorso and the seawall · Above Sant'Angelo

Monte Epomeo's rocky peak above white balconies and purple flowers.Epomeo from the terraceA padlock on a rusted seawall railing, the sea and a pale rock behind.Padlock on the railingLarge white tuff boulders at the water's edge under streaky clouds.White tuff bouldersThe white church of the Soccorso on its walled point above the rocks.Chiesa del SoccorsoThe islet of Sant'Angelo tied to the shore by a thin strip of land, deep blue sea, vines in front.Sant'Angelo's rockA single sailboat on calm sea, framed by a rock wall.A sailboat below the cliffs
Day 4

Round the island by boat

Thu 15 Oct · Round the island · Sant'Angelo · Castello Aragonese · Soccorso and the seawall

A flag blowing on the boat in front of a steep wooded cliff.The flag over the cliffsA gull floating on the water, framed by a life ring.A gull through the life ringThe bow of a small boat with an orange life ring, heading for Sant'Angelo's white houses and rock.Coming into Sant'AngeloWhite and pastel houses stacked up a green hillside.Sant'Angelo's housesA big pot of mussels being cooked on the boat.Mussels on boardThe Castello Aragonese on its island rock, a sailboat at its base.The Castello from the seaA tour boat on the horizon, seen past ropes and a life ring.Another boat, through the riggingThe sun breaking over the top of the Castello's cliff.Sun over the wallsThe skipper at the wheel, Ischia Ponte behind him.The skipperThe domed cathedral and buildings along the top of the Castello.The cathedral domeThe full run of the Castello's buildings along the cliff.The Castello from belowThe Castello framed by the curve of the boat's rail.Through the railA gull lifting off the water below a cliff.A gull taking offThe Castello's outline behind a blurred chrome fitting on the boat.Past the chromeA small fishing boat at anchor, mountains faint on the horizon.A fishing boat at anchorForio's houses along the seawall, a dark headland beyond.Forio's waterfrontPanorama of Forio's houses with Monte Epomeo behind and the harbor wall in front.Forio and EpomeoForio's seafront in soft evening light, rocks in the water below a dark headland.Evening on the rocksThe town of Forio below Monte Epomeo, the mountain lit orange at sunset.Epomeo going goldPanorama of Forio and Monte Epomeo in pink evening light.Forio at duskThe sun setting into the sea, a boat crossing its reflection.Sunset from the seawallA figure walking along the curved stone seawall at dusk, a headland behind.Walking the seawall
Day 5

Beach day

Fri 16 Oct · Cava dell'Isola

Gulls lined up along the top of a big rock against a sunset sky.Gulls on the rock
Day 6

Poseidon, then up Epomeo

Sat 17 Oct · Monte Epomeo

Dusk from Epomeo: villages below, Capri on the horizon, a dry fennel stalk in front.Capri from the summitHazy dusk over the villages and the sea, Capri in the distance.Lights coming on
Day 7

The Castello, then Sorrento

Sun 18 Oct · Ischia Porto · Ischia Ponte · Castello Aragonese

A work boat with a crane moored in Ischia's harbor.Ischia PortoA beach club with a neon Bagno Lucia sign on a pier over the water.Bagno LuciaA busy street in Ischia Ponte with the Castello's domed church above its end.Toward the CastelloHills and the bay seen through a gap in the Castello's walls.Through the wallsThe causeway, Ischia Ponte and Monte Epomeo seen from the top of the Castello.The causeway and EpomeoAn arched window in a dark room, sunlight on the floor, sea and headland outside.Arched windowThe sea and a distant mountain range framed by leaves.Across the bayA dark whitewashed wall, a window above a doorway onto a sunny courtyard.Doorway to the courtyardA gull on the Castello wall, a green islet and Vesuvius across the water.Gull on the wallA gull in flight and another on the wall, the coast behind.Two gullsA gull landing on the wall with its wings spread.LandingA gull on a small stone arch far above the sea.The little belfryThe stone arch with its gull, open sea and Capri on the horizon.Capri from the CastelloA pigeon on the rough stone wall, blue sea and a green islet behind.A pigeon's viewA pale pink hibiscus flower in dappled shade.HibiscusA ruined stone wall under a tree, Ischia's hills and houses beyond.The ruined churchA shadowed arched tunnel leading to a sunlit gate.Out through the gate
Day 8

Pompeii, then up to Rome

Mon 19 Oct · Pompeii

Broken columns of a Pompeii house with Vesuvius between them.Vesuvius between the columnsTall columns against the mountains, grasses in front.Columns in the ForumA street of ruined walls with Vesuvius at the end and a sign reading REG VI INS XII.Reg VI, Ins XIIA long ruined street with stepping stones and visitors, mountains beyond.The long streetBrick and stone ruins with Vesuvius rising behind.Vesuvius above the wallsA large brick arch in the Forum, crowds walking through, mountains beyond.The Forum archThe Forum's colonnade and arch, visitors on the paving, blue mountains behind.The ForumA column and a carved inscription in the Forum, a doorway beyond.Column and inscriptionA brick pillar numbered 16 among roofless walls, mountains in the distance.Number 16The same brick pillar numbered 16, in black and white.Number 16, againVesuvius beyond a stone wall and a green field, oleander in front.Through the oleander
Day 9

The river, the Spanish Steps, then home

Tue 20 Oct · The Tiber at Ponte Mazzini · St Peter's · Spanish Steps · Ponte Sisto

The Tiber and Ponte Mazzini, a small boat, a church dome above the trees.The Tiber at Ponte MazziniA Trastevere street rising toward the green Janiculum hill.Up toward the JaniculumA wooden motorboat on the Tiber under the arch of Ponte Mazzini.A boat under the bridgeA river tour boat passing Ponte Mazzini.The river boatA long street with St Peter's dome at the end, someone walking a white dog across.The dome at the end of the streetSt Peter's Basilica over a crowd at the end of Via della Conciliazione.St Peter'sThe Spanish Steps crowded with people, Trinità dei Monti at the top.The Spanish StepsLooking up the Spanish Steps to Trinità dei Monti.Trinità dei MontiCrowds at the foot of Via Condotti.Via CondottiThe Tiber in evening light, St Peter's dome above the trees, a bridge downstream.St Peter's from Ponte Sisto