Frozen in time by the most famous volcanic eruption ever, Pompeii offers the most complete view of day-to-day life in an ancient Roman town. After exploring this haunting archaeological site, you’ll visit the architect of its destruction – Mt Vesuvius.
There’s an early start as we catch a ferry from Sorrento to the mainland. On arrival at Pompeii, your guide will take you through the town, the expanse of which will astound you. Buried under volcanic ash by Vesuvius’s eruption in 79 AD, it has been painstakingly clawed back from Mother Nature and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover the richly decorated villas of the Roman nobility – you can still see frescoes on the walls – as well as public spaces.
In the afternoon, head to Vesuvius. After driving up the slopes, we’ll hike up narrow paths that zigzag up to the very top of the smoking crater. The views over the Bay of Naples are the icing on the cake.