This tour focus on the visit of the two main archaeological sites of the region: Pompeii and Herculaneum, the ancient roman cities swept away by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Considered of great importance for the Roman Empire, they were at their social and economic peak at the time of the disaster. The main difference between the two places is that Pompeii was a bustling city, gateway for merchants and travelers, while the latter was more of a residential village for aristocrats and intellectuals. 

Stop along the way to a local factory to learn more about the process of Cameos (carved sea shells) and Corals craft. Lunch break to a local restaurant with a 3 course tourist menu, drinks not included.

At the time of the dramatic eruption, Pompeii counted about 11.000 inhabitants, while Herculaneum had a population of some 5.000 people. A number of emperors and aristocrats had their holiday villas in these cities. One day, in 79 AD, several meters of ashes buried the whole area in a matter of few hours. Centuries later, in 1748, under the Bourbons government, excavation works started. The discovery was greeted with enthusiasm as it added great wealth to the kingdom and inspired the neoclassicism movement in Europe. Nowadays, the ruins of Pompeii are amongst the most visited archaeological sites in the world, while Herculaneum is renewed for its Villa dei Papiri containing a library of over 1800 papyruses.

Included in this tour there is a stop to a Cameos and Corals workshop, to learn more about this ancient art-craft, for which the Neapolitan school is still considered of great importance. Cameos in particular are carved sea shells representing scenes of mythological deities.

Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will be heading towards the ruins of Herculaneum.