Bay of Naples: Pompeii & Herculaneum
| Resort: | Bay of Naples: Pompeii & Herculaneum |
| Operator: | Cox and Kings |
| Destination: | Italy |
| Price From: | £1895.00 |
OverviewUncover the mysteries of the Bay of Naples, once one of the greatest centres of classical Graeco-Roman civilisation, with experts Dr Steve Kershaw or Stephen Nelson. The excavated remains of Pompeii, Stabiae and Villa Oplontis, entombed in ash in the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79AD, provide a glimpse into this lost world. Herculaneum, covered in mud rather than ash, is remarkably well preserved, with multi-storey buildings, frescoes and mosaics on show. The regions Greek highlights include Cumae, the Sibyls Cave and the imposing temples of Paestum. ItineraryDay 1: Fly to Naples Cava dei TirreniFly from London (regional connections available) to Naples with British Airways. Transfer to Cava dei Tirreni and, after an introductory lecture and welcome dinner, stay at Hotel Victoria Maiorino (or similar) for 6 nights. (D) Day 2: Cumae BaiaFull-day tour to the Phlegrean Fields, also known as the Burning Fields due to their volcanic nature. Morning visit to Cumae, the firstGreeksettlementinmainlandItalyandhome to the cave of the Sibyl, as described in Virgils Aeneid. Continue to Baia Archaeological Park with its Roman thermal spa. Finish with a visit to the volcanic crater of Solfatara. (B) Day 3: PaestumFull-day visit to Paestum, one of Italys most majestic sites, to see the Doric temples of Ceres, Hera and Neptune. Visit the museum and the recently discovered Greek tomb paintings. (B, L) Day 4: Pompeii Villa of the MysteriesVisit the extensive ruins of Pompeii. See the archaeological park, inclduing the basilica, the forum and the amphitheatre. Continue to the excellently preserved Villa of the Mysteries, which features controversial frescoes thought to depict the secret cult of Dionysus. (B) Day 5: HerculaneumMorning visit to the ruins of Herculaneum, which are better preserved than those at Pompeii. Afternoon at leisure. (B) Day 6: Oplontis StabiaeVisit the excavated imperial villa at Oplontis, thought to be the home of Emperor Neros second wife, Poppaea. After a wine tasting and lunch, continue to Stabiae, where ancient Romans built magnificent villas paintedwith frescoes and where Pliny the Elder died during the volcanic disaster. (B, L) Day 7: Naples Fly to LondonMorning visit to the Naples National Archaeological Museum and its collection of treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Lunch at a typical Neapolitan pizzeria before returning to the airport for a flight to London.(B, L) |
