Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania (8 Days) Prices starting from      Nowhere in the world could give a deeper insight into Roman life than the dramatic seaside towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, where life came to an abrupt half with the eruption of Vesuvius in August AD 79. The explosion devastated lives and livelihoods throughout the Bay of Naples. It also uniquely preserved for posterity the evidence of those lives - of ordinary people who were caught in an extraordinary disaster. Instead of being tidied away, worn out, disposed of, recycled or built over, their private possessions, dwellings and even their mortal remains have been arrested and preserved at one particular moment to provide a snapshot of life nearly 2000 years ago. Pompeii and Herculaneum are the most famous of the towns destroyed in AD79, but the same fate befell many other busy towns lining the bay, as well as simple farms on the fertile slopes of the mountain and holiday villas of the rich and famous. Our tour provides the opportunity to see the best examples of Roman culture from a time when the relatively new Roman Empire was at its most vigorous, with a physically and socially mobile population expressing wealth and status in an astonishing variety of ways. For three hundred years, since excavations began at the beginning of the 18th century, a picture of how people lived and died here has been slowly emerging. The story of these excavations is the history of archaeology itself, evolving from simply retrieving artefacts as curiosities and treasures, to minute study of organic remains, the pathology of bodies, and detailed surveys of buildings and their decorations. Here is your chance to visit with someone who can explain the significance of what you see, drawing together all the evidence to bring the sites back to life.   Departure Dates <sold out dates in red> - 2010 September  6 , 20 October 4 $2,625 per person Day 1 Naples      Arrive Naples and drive to Cava dei Tirreni. Day 2 Naples      Drive south to explore the temples, site and museum at Paestum. This was the Greek colony of Poseidonia and its monuments include three of the best-preserved Doric temples anywhere in the Mediterranean and the unique painted "Tomb of the Diver". A brief stop at the site of the Heraion, provides a context for the 6th century BC metopes displayed in the museum. Day 3 Naples      The whole day is spent exploring as much as possible of Pompeii, two thirds of which has been excavated over more than 250 years. No other site can compare in revealing the scale and proportions of a Roman town Day 4 Naples      Visit the exceptional collections and artefacts at the National Archaeological Museum at Naples. The displays are always changing here, and there is never access to everything, but still there will be more than enough to satisfy and amaze. Continue to Pozzuoli to see one of the largest amphitheatres in the world. Day 5 Naples      A visit to Herculaneum perfectly compliments a visit to Pompeii. Much less of the town has been excavated, but what you see is better preserved, to a much greater depth. Wood and other organic remains were carbonised but still survive, as do upper storeys. A modest farm-house has been discovered at Boscoreale, named the Villa Regina, and a fine antiquarium has been opened beside this, displaying environmental evidence from sites destroyed in AD79. Day 6 Naples      Explore the region of the Phlegraean Fields, in the north of the Bay of Naples: Baia boasts a remarkable bathing complex, and has an excellent new museum in an Aragonese Castle;Cumae was an important Greek colony, home of the prophetic sibyll. Day 7 Naples      Morning ascent of Vesuvius. The villa at Oplontis is one of many destroyed by the eruption, but is exceptional for the quality and preservation of its wall-paintings. Day 8 Naples      Return flight from Naples. Price per person starts at: US 2625 based on double occupancy. THIS TOUR INCLUDES: 7 nights in a hotel in Corpo di Cava Local travel by private a/c coach All meals (dinners with wine & water) except lunch on Days 3 & 8. Other lunches in trattorie / pizzeire (no picnics) Entry to all sites in the programme; tips included NOT INCLUDED: Airfare: Please contact us for a quote! Hotel-Airport Transfers: Please ask us to arrange for you. NOTE: You MUST purchase insurance to be a part of this tour. You may contact us for details on policies through Travel Guard, or feel free to arrange for insurance on your own. We appreciate your cooperation.