Your driver (holding a white sign with your name) will pick you up from the port of Naples in a Mercedes vehicle for your private day tour to Herculaneum, Pompeii and Vesuvius. We guarantee you will be back at your dock well in advance of your cruise ship’s departure. The itineary of the excursion can be modified according to your needs and wishes. Visit at your own pace these unique and unforgettable spots.
You will be heading first to Herculaneum, which was founded, according to tradition, by Hercules. Like Pompeii the Roman town was buried during the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius. The mud solidified into tuff and with the passage of time the town literally vanished from view. All timber structures (frameworks, beams, doors, stairs and partitions) were preserved by a hard shell of solidified mud. Highlights of the site include the Hall of the Augustals, with its marble floor and wall paintings, the elegantly decorated Thermal Baths and the Palestra, a monumental sports arena used for competition and training.
Afterwards, you will stop for climbing Vesuvius, the symbol of Naples; with its perfect form closes the Gulf. The panorama from the top of the mountain extends from the Sorrentine Peninsula to Capo Posillipo, giving rise to unforgettable memories. The mountain itself was once higher than it currently stands, claiming a single summit rising to about 3000m rather than the 1281m of today. Its violent outburst in AD 79 not only drowned Pompei in pumice and pushed the coastline back several kilometres but also destroyed much of the mountain top, creating a huge caldera and two new peaks.
Your excursion will end with the visit to the “buried city”. The origins of Pompeii are uncertain, but it seems likely that it was founded in the 7th century BC by the Campanian Oscans. Over the next seven centuries the city fell to the Greeks and the Samnites before becoming a Roman colony in 80 BC. Much of the site’s value lies in the fact that it wasn’t simply blown away by Vesuvius in AD 79, rather it was buried under a layer of lapilli (burning fragments of pumice stone). The result is a remarkably well-preserved slice of ancient life, where visitors can walk down Roman streets and snoop around millennia-old abodes and businesses (including a brothel).
Please note: Entrance fees, meals and drinks are not included. A certified English speaking guide is highly recommended at Pompeii for a better experience and because of your time frame; two hours is the minimum number of hours required for hiring a guide. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water (especially in the summer) for this tour.
