12 V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 Early Periods XXX! XXX 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. Our guides, archaeologists Professor Andy Fear, emeritus Professor Andrew Poulter and PhD student university lecturer Amanda Pavlick, are leading experts who have excavated widely. Throughout the tour we will be based at the magnificent Le 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. 8 - 14 April 2019 with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear 2 - 8 September 2019 2 - 8 September 2019 2 - 8 September 2019 2 - 8 September 2019 2 - 8 September 2019 with Prof Andrew Poulter with Prof Andrew Poulter with Prof Andrew Poulter 22 - 28 October 2019 22 - 28 October 2019 22 - 28 October 2019 with Amanda Pavlick 30 March - 5 April 2020 with Dr Andy Fear 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: £2095 Single supplement: £260 Deposit: £200 Price without flights: £1970 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 for six nights. Welcome drink and introductory lecture from your expert guide. 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 Paestum. The most famous of these is the fresco from the 'Tomb of the Diver', the only extant wall-painting from a Greek tomb. Day 3 – Pompeii. A whole day in Pompeii exploring the public monuments and private residences that best illustrate what life was like in this bustling port and market town. The fountains in the street, worn where thousands of people have rested to take a drink, the stepping stones, wheel ruts, corner shrines, bakeries, public baths, the brothel, street cafés and ancient graffiti – all of human life in AD79 is here when you know where to look for it. Day 4 – Stabiae and Oplontis. Ancient Stabiae, founded between the 7th and 6th centuries BC, was one of the places chosen by the aristocracy of Rome to build their large luxury villas in a panoramic position on the edge of Varano Hill. It was here that Pliny the Elder met his death, probably during the Hotel La Medusa