If you are keen in Roman history and/or archaeology, a private day tour of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius is just what you need! Your chauffeur will pick you up from the port of Salerno in a Mercedes vehicle to take you to the ancient ruins and the Volcano. At the end of your excursion you will be returned to your cruise ship.
Herculaneum was discovered in 1709, and although excavations started shortly after and proceeded alongside those in Pompeii, the uncovered area here is much smaller. Additionally, unlike Pompeii, a lot of Herculaneum is buried under the current city, making the excavation process more difficult. Still, the discoveries have been incredible. Researchers say Herculaneum was one-third the size of Pompeii and was a luxurious seaside resort for rich Romans. Most of the town consisted of fancy homes and living spaces for poorer workers.
Pompeii covers a wide area and as you enter through the Porta Marina from the Villa of the Mysteries (Villa dei Misteri), you’ll find the Forum, the centre of the political, economic and religious life of Pompeii featuring a basilica, temples dedicated to Apollo and Jupiter and a market hall. Walking north along Via di Mercurio, you’ll find some of the town's more luxurious houses. On the left the House of the Tragic Poet (Casa del Poetica Tragico), a typical house from the last days of Pompeii. Nearby, the renowed House of the Faun (Casa del Fauno) gets its name from the bronze statue located in the middle of its large impluvium, the sunken area of the atrium meant to collect rainwater.
Vesuvius rises impressively over the Bay of Naples. After August 24, AD 79, Vesuvius has erupted periodically ever since: many people lost their lives in 1631 and in 1906, it blew its crater's top off. The most recent big eruption happened on March 31, 1944. The creation of the Vesuvius National Park was agreed in 1991, and declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The park covers the whole Volcano area, the amazing ruins of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Oplontis, and the Miglio d’Oro (Golden Mile), which features the most wonderful examples of 18th and 19th century villas.
