This private tour includes an English-speaking driver with his Air-conditioned Mercedes at your disposal for 9 hours (only for you) - Archaeological English-speaking guide for visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum (only for you) - Entrance fees of Pompeii and Herculaneum included
Have with us a full day tour to the most famous archaeological ruins in the Bay of Naples: Pompeii and Herculaneum, both destroyed in the A. D. 79 eruption by Mount Vesuvius.
You’ll meet your professional driver by your cruise ship in the port or by your accommodation. Then, after a short drive you arrive to Herculaneum where you meet our archaeological English-speaking guide for a 2-hour tour of the ruins.
Herculaneum was a small town close to the city of Pompeii, but it is no less important and rich in treasures than Pompeii. In addition, the houses of both the cities are the most important source we have today for understanding the evolution of Roman painting from the second century BC to the 79 A.D. In fact nowhere else in the world there is such a large amount of wall paintings dated back to the Roman empire. These masterpieces are very delicate and only because of ash and mud erupted by Mt Vesuvius in Roman times their preservation has lasted for so long.
The particular dynamics of the burial of Herculaneum, which was covered with pyroclastic flow solidified up to an average height of about 16 meters, led to a phenomenon of preservation of Herculaneum totally unique and largely unmatched in Pompeii, returning back to our days various organic artefacts and numerous wooden elements belonging to the architecture of the buildings such as beams, stairs etc.: some of the most famous houses in the small town of Herculaneum owe their conventional name to the preservation of exceptional artefacts. And even under a superficial examination it is possible to see with absolute clarity the orderly orthogonal urban planning and the splendour of public buildings brought to light.
After the visit of Herculaneum and the transfer to Pompeii, you can have 1 hour of free time for a snack or a pizza. Then, you’ll enter Pompeii ruins with the same guide for another 2-hour private tour.
Pompeii was a small city of approx. thirty thousand people located on the bottom of a picturesque valley. The area attracted important people, but that city was populated mainly by traders, quiet and wealthy people. Scholars agree to derive the name Pompeii from a Greek word that means sending, carry; from which it is easy to conclude that a lot of Pompeians practiced the trade and the export. The city of Pompeii was the commercial warehouse of the region and its sea port could receive a naval fleet (the ships of Publius Cornelius docked there). The locals were Roman citizens and Rome was recognized as capital. But other than that, Pompeii was a world apart, independent and complete. The city had a small Senate, composed of Decurions, a select aristocracy and finally the people. The city appointed the priests, promulgated the municipal laws and chose its Consuls and Quaestors. So, it was not just a provincial city but almost a small state that protected itself from the empire. A miniature Rome, as it has been generously defined by some.
Since its discovery, Pompeii became a must for travellers more or less famous. It attracted kings, nobles, intellectuals, writers and artists who, through their writings and their works, determined its aesthetics consecration and spread its image all around the world. Obviously this is due to the good state of the Roman city. Since 1997, Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its value, uniqueness and exceptionality. This archaeological site, because of its incredible preservation and of the events that have permitted it, will not fail to impress also people who are not interested in history.
After that, back to the cruise ship or to the accommodation.
N.B.: We prefer to arrange a break by Pompeii ruins because only there you can find numerous drinks stalls or pizzerias for a snack.
THE HERCULANEUM AND POMPEII GUIDED TOUR WILL OPERATE IN ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS.
