Watched over by its lighthouse, the port of Mergellina lies away from the centre to the west of the city. Here, boats leave from the busy Molo Beverello for the offshore islands. There are splendid views of the city and the bay: crowned by the Castel Sant'Elmo, Vomero hill slopes gently down to Santa Lucia point, which is extended by the Castel dell'Ovo. The familiar silhouette of Vesuvius can be seen in the background, dominating the Bay of Naples.