10 V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 Early Periods the archaeological delights of the bay of naples Pompeii, Herculaneum and More This comprehensive archaeological tour of the Bay of Naples and the events of AD79 not only includes the well-known and impressive remains of Pompeii and the superbly preserved Herculaneum but also those lesser known, but nonetheless important sites such as the seaside villas of the wealthy at Oplontis, possibly once owned by Poppeia, wife of the Emperor Nero; Stabiae, where the frescoes are amongst the most beautiful found anywhere in the world; Cumae, the first Greek colony on the Italian mainland; Baiae, a fashionable Roman seaside resort and Pozzuoli, the main port of the early Roman Empire. There is no better time to exploretheBayofNaplesthanintheSpring and Autumn when the temperatures are pleasant, there is minimal heat haze to obscure visibility and the archaeology is bereft of buzzing tourists. Our magnificent base throughout the tour is La Medusa Hotel a fabulous and Boutique Spa in Castellammare di Stabia, an eighteenth century Bourbon residence with refined and elegant interiors set amongst its own secluded park. Throughout you will be in the expert company of Roman Empire specialist Tony O’Connor, a veteran guide and archaeologist or Amanda Pavlick, a Roman archaeologist who specializes in the material culture of Roman cities and pre-Roman Italy: both have excavated widely across Britain, Europe and North Africa. 13 - 19 March 2018 with Tony O’Connor 26 October - 1 November 2017 & 23 – 29 October 2018 with Dr Amanda Pavlick 7 Days Activity Level 2 Essentials Return flights from London, 4 star hotel, buffet breakfast, all lunches, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. Tour price: £1895 Single supplement: £195 Deposit: £200 Price without flights: £1745 When Vesuvius erupted, pyroclastic debris was hurled more than twenty miles into the atmosphere, engulfing the entire Bay of Naples and beyond, killing thousands of people. Pompeii was not the only city to be destroyed - the inhabitants of all the neighbouring Roman resort cities, including Herculaneum and Stabiae, were also completely obliterated. The devastation wrought and the way the volcanic ash sealed and preserved everything it engulfed, has fascinated visitors since the first archaeological investigations at Pompeii in 1748. The fact that it has been the most famous archaeological site in the world for so long means that centuries' worth of repairs and restorations have added their own overlay to the Roman originals. Modern day archaeologists have to sift through not only layers of dust and ash to interpret this large city but also the theories and presumptions of the excavators that went before them. Day 1 - Fly London to Naples. Check-in to our hotel in The Bay of Naples for six nights. Welcome drink and introductory lecture. Day 2 - Paestum. Spend the day exploring the heart of the ancient city of Poseidonia. The most dramatic sights are the three Doric temples; roofless, but still standing, these are among the greatest archaeological monuments in Italy. In the afternoon we visit the Museum which contains paintings and grave goods from tombs in and around " A truly wonderful tour. Tony was a superb guide.”