Portrait of a young woman from Pompeii; she holds a stylus to her lips, perhaps about to write on a wax tablet such as that preserved below. The wax has gone, but words remain scratched into the wood beneath.
The Alexander mosaic from the House of the Faun at Pompeii is full of movement and detail
The Temple of Athena at Paestum, one of three which are amongst the best-preserved in the world. The picture was taken in January
Human and mythological figures in the complete wall frieze in the Villa of the Mysteries; possibly showing the initiation of a young woman into the cult of Dionysus
Vesuvius dominates the view from the ruins of Pompeii
Walking along a Pompeii street, one can almost hear the cries of the Roman street vendors and the bustle of the crowds
The forum at Pompeii, with the Capitol at one end, was unknowingly aligned towards the mountain which was to bring about its destruction - Vesuvius is looking very clear in the winter sunshine
View over the ruins at Herculaneum, with Vesuvius looming over

2014 Tour Details

Weds 15th - Sun 19th Jan 2014
with Dr Eireann Marshall

Thur 23rd - Mon 27th Oct 2014
with Tony Wilmott

NB - Planning for our 2014 Tours is still at quite an early stage and some details (sites, hotels, dates) may change. You can reserve a place on any 2014 tour with fixed, fully refundable deposit of £300 (no top-ups if you book before 31st May). Should you change your mind when the brochure (with finalised prices) is published in June/ July we will happily refund your deposit, or transfer you to another tour.

Quotes

Across five days we enjoyed a comprehensive introduction to the Greek and Roman influences and impact in this famous part of Italy. Nothing can compare with not only seeing the impressive remains, but also having them explained and interpreted by an expert. Hotel and travel arrangements were also outstanding.
Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples Museum. Really good to be able to do a short tour - the fact that it was five days was an advantage.
The comfort and luxury of having everything done for me by the superb tour manager. The excellent guide; the absence of crowds, the beauty and interest of what we came to see. high spots for me were Paestrum and the museum.
The tour was beautifully planned and executed. The guide and tour leader gained our confidence at once... A super holiday.
Excellent door-to-door service everyday and not having to queue! Friendliness and approachability of guide lecturer, tour manager and other guests.

Tour Type

Tour Codes

Jan: (SPO1$A)
Oct: (SPO14B)

Italy - Pompeii and Herculaneum (short)

Haunting vision of everyday life 2000 years ago, and a wonderful introduction to the Roman world.
Sites nearly empty of tourists in January and November - and usually some bright winter sunshine!
Return every evening to a converted minor palazzo in Herculaneum.

Pompeii in winter is empty, haunting and, if you are lucky, still sometimes bathed in sunshine. This is one of the best times to visit, and these winter breaks have been designed to introduce you to the Roman world, allowing time to see the highlights whilst we have the city more or less to ourselves - sharing it with the shades of those earlier inhabitants.

The sites and cities in this area provide a unique opportunity to understand how people lived 2000 years ago. We even know the names, houses, occupations and, from other personal details, something of the personalities of individuals who once walked these streets.

Itinerary

Day One
Arrive Naples and drive either to our hotel on the Miglio d’Oro in Herculaneum.

Day Two
Travel south to the coastal plain which was once the terrain of the Greek colony of Poseidonia, later the Roman town of Paestum. This is the opportunity to understand the development of the region in antiquity, from Greek colonisation to the early Middle Ages. Three impressive Doric temples still stand from the Greek city, and their continued use for up to a thousand years shows how artistic styles, religious practice, technology and commercial and political considerations changed with time.

Day Three
We spend today exploring the streets and buildings of Pompeii. This is a whole Roman town, with a complete wall-circuit, and two-thirds of the interior has been excavated over more than 250 years. It contains the story of a fairly ordinary Roman town in the 1st century AD, the first natural disaster for which we have an eyewitness account, and also the development of archaeology from the treasure-hunt it was in the 18th century to the forensic science it is today.

Day Four
This morning we visit Herculaneum, the perfect complement to our Pompeii visit. This harbour town was closer to Vesuvius, and was buried by a pyroclastic surge which raised the present ground level by 25 metres. A much smaller area has been excavated, but buildings are preserved to a greater height, and carbonised organic matter survived – timber, foodstuffs, rope… Walking through the tunnel to what was once the seashore, where hundreds of bodies have been found huddled in the boat-houses (but are not on display) is an unforgettable experience. We finish the day with a visit to another splendid villa at Oplontis. The relatively recent excavations here have allowed excellent preservation for the wall-paintings, and a detailed study of the gardens and the plants which were grown here 2000 years ago.

Day Five
Morning visit to see the wonderful artefacts in the Naples Archaeological Museum as an introduction to the sites. It houses the extraordinary finds from the excavations not only of Pompeii, but those from other towns, villas and farms in the region. Exquisite metalwork which would normally have been melted and recycled; marble statues which would have been broken up to make lime for fertiliser; wall-paintings which would have decayed or been obliterated and plastered over - all would have been lost, had Vesuvius not exploded and buried them. Continue to the airport for our flight home.

NB Order of itinerary may change according to winter flight schedules.

“This was the first Andante holiday... It was just magical and I loved it. The Naples museum - seeing all those famous objects for real. It was often impossible to believe they were ancient, so perfect, such amazing craftmanship. So much was packed into such a short time but I never felt rushed or overloaded. It was one of the best holidays I have ever been on!”

What's Included

Flights - Scheduled flights with BA from London Gatwick to Naples
Local Travel - Private a/c coach
Guide Lecturer - Dr Eireann Marshall (Jan); Tony Wilmott (Oct). Not to be confused with "guest lecturers"! The guide lecturer will be with you from breakfast to supper, and probably even a drink in the bar afterwards. There is the occasional site where they may not be allowed to guide because of local regulations but otherwise the guides are just that. They will have been chosen because of specialist knowledge and their ability to communicate and interest you. After 29 years of making tours worldwide, we are highly appreciative of the attributes of a good guide, and intensely critical of people who do not possess them
Tour Manager - We never know how best to call the very special people whom we choose to accompany you on your tour. They are usually employed in this capacity only by us, and have been trained to do things in the Andante way - unobtrusive, friendly and quietly efficient
Meals - All meals included (dinners with wine & water) except lunch Days 3. Other lunches in trattorie / pizzerie
Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme; tips included
Field Notes

Hotel

4 nights in grand hotel converted from a palazzo on the Miglio d’Oro (Golden Mile of once wealthy houses) in Herculaneum, close to the excavations. It has beautiful gardens.

Book Now!

Wed 15th - Sun 19th Jan 2014 with Dr Eireann Marshall	Singles: Available	Twin/Doubles: Available
Thu 23rd - Mon 27th Oct 2014 with Tony Wilmott	Singles: Available	Twin/Doubles: Available

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