Full-Day Archaeology Around Mt. Vesuvius

• PHOTOS

In 79 A.D., fierce volcanic eruptions buried several towns and villas that hugged the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius with molten lava and ash. Many of these sites were not unearthed until the modern era, when in the late 18th century, the Bourbon kings of Naples financed vast excavation efforts that greatly enriched the royal collections. Ironically, the volcanic material which settled upon the ancient settlements preserved homes, stores, temples and bodies to frightening accuracy, allowing for an in depth investigation into the ancient life and culture of the area.

Depending on the interests and desires of the group, we will take in visits to two of the archaeological sites located on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. For example:

• Pompeii in the morning and Herculaneum in the afternoon, with lunch in between.

• Coupling Herculaneum and Oplontis, or considering Stabia.
• For active types, you can spend the morning at an archaeological site of your choice and then hike up Mt. Vesuvius in the aftern

In 79 A.D., fierce volcanic eruptions buried several towns and villas that hugged the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius with molten lava and ash. Many of these sites were not unearthed until the modern era, when in the late 18th century, the Bourbon kings of Naples financed vast excavation efforts that greatly enriched the royal collections. Ironically, the volcanic material which settled upon the ancient settlements preserved homes, stores, temples and bodies to frightening accuracy, allowing for an in depth investigation into the ancient life and culture of the area.

Depending on the interests and desires of the group, we will take in visits to two of the archaeological sites located on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. For example:

• Pompeii in the morning and Herculaneum in the afternoon, with lunch in between.

• Coupling Herculaneum and Oplontis, or considering Stabia.
• For active types, you can spend the morning at an archaeological site of your choice and then hike up Mt. Vesuvius in the afternoon and enjoy the panoramic view of the gulf of Naples from the rim of the volcano. If you choose to visit Mt. Vesuvius in the afternoon, please note that the hike up Mt. Vesuvius is a leisurely one. However, the terrain is uneven and the altitude high. We discourage clients with walking difficulties from requesting this version of the excursion.

Throughout the day, we will be chauffeured with a car service and will travel in the good company of a docent who specializes in archeology or classic history, and who possesses a deep knowledge of the individual sites and the overall context of the Campania region during antiquity and its relationship to Rome, who ruled the area at that time.

This excursion is priced for up to two people. We can accommodate up to seven, with a 80 euro surcharge for any additional participant.

For more information on organizing a day trip to the archaeological sites of Mt. Vesuvius, check out a blog post we recently penned to serve this purpose.