Pompeii & Vesuvius from Naples with lunch and wine

General information

Destination
Naples, Italy

Program details

First, meet up with your expert local guide in the center of this fascinating southern Italian city and hop aboard a comfortable private coach to head straight for the archaeological area of Pompeii. Your guide will prepare you for everything that’s in store for you, sharing the captivating stories and history behind the fateful day in 79 AD when Mt. Vesuvius exploded in one of the most catastrophic eruptions ever, covering the area in a thick layer of ash and rubble.



Once we get to Pompeii you’ll benefit from skip-the-line, pre-booked entry and the expertise of an official local guide, as you walk this former port resort’s main streets just as the ancient Romans did. The stones are still worn with tracks from the chariots that tread them nearly 2,000 years ago! We’ll visit the forum, the center of Pompeii’s political and social life, the startling plaster death casts of the victims of the violent eruption that destroyed the city, as well as take a look inside intact dwellings complete with their porticoes, mosaics and frescoes. The city’s baths and gymnasiums will also impress as you look across the millennia at a moment frozen in time forever.



After Pompeii, we’ll take you up the lush slopes of Mt. Vesuvius itself to meet its most famous wine producer for a tasting of 6 fantastic native varieties produced from the volcanic soil right beneath your feet! Enjoy an inviting 3-course lunch of some of the region’s most delectable culinary delights, including cheeses, cured meats, pasta with local ‘piennolo’ heirloom tomatoes and a mouthwatering ‘pastiera napoletana’ pastry dessert with ricotta cheese and fruit. Admire sweeping views from the terrace over the surrounding countryside, and visit the vineyards and cellar with a careful explanation of the grape varietals and each step in the winemaking process from the family that owns them.



From here we’ll finish our ascent to the edge of Mt. Vesuvius’s crater. Take the chance to look an active volcano in the face on the 20-minute hike where you’ll get to look inside the caldera and take in the most breathtaking panoramas of the day. You’ll see Naples, the bay and the island of Capri from a height of over 4,200 feet, as well as bask in the pristine nature that surrounds you.



Jump on your private coach again and enjoy the drive back to Naples as your guide winds down the day satisfying your every curiosity. This is Pompeii and Vesuvius as it is rarely experienced!





Duration

8 hours and 45 minutes