Pompeii, Paestum and Herculaneum — Italy to the Adriatic — Page & Moy Europe Holiday Collection 2009 online holiday brochure

ITALY TO THE ADRIATIC Pompeii, Paestum & Herculaneum 8 days from �849 Amalfi Coast Paestum Herculaneum * Specialist lecturer * All excursions included * Charming 3-star hotel * Extraordinary ancient sites Discover the rich Roman heritage and magnificent natural beauty of the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius as its stunning backdrop. Enjoy spectacular views of the Amalfi Coast; visit the enchanting island of Capri and see some of the best archaeological sites in Italy. ITINERARY DAY 1 UK/Vico Equense We fly to Naples and transfer to the pretty town of Vico Equense on the Sorrento Peninsula for seven nights half board accommodation. DAY 2 Pozzuoli, Solfatara & Cumae This will be a day of amazing contrasts as we take in Roman remains in Pozzuoli; the earliest Greek settlement in Western Europe at Cumae; and the strange, unearthly landscape of Solfatara. The amphitheatre at Pozzuoli seated 20,000 spectators in its heyday. Although in ruins, we'll find an enormous maze of extraordinarily well-preserved tunnels and caverns underground where wild animals would have been kept, waiting for their feast. We continue to Solfatara, a volcanic crater resembling a moonscape, where we hear the constant sound of bubbling and hissing; it is not surprising that the Romans thought this was one of the entrances to hell. Cumae is a magical place, high above the sea and surrounded by oak trees. Little remains of the Greek temples that once stood here, but the Cave of the Sibyl is remarkably intact. According to Virgil, this is where Aeneas received instructions to descend to the underworld. We also visit the ruined temple to Jupiter, from where the views are superb. DAY 3 Pompeii The sheer scale of Pompeii is staggering. Once home to 20,000 people, the last few moments of the lives of its citizens were frozen for all time by the thick layer of volcanic ash and pumice that descended on the city so quickly in AD 79. We take the Circumvesuviana Railway this morning and spend the day exploring this fascinating insight into Roman life in 1st-century Italy. We will see brilliant mosaics, beautifully frescoed villas, Roman baths and the amphitheatre, where 5,000 spectators gathered to witness gladiatorial combat. We see the tracks on the roads where Roman carts wore down the stones, the local wine shop and the bakery, whose ovens still contain petrified loaves of bread. DAY 4 The Island of Capri Today we take the ferry to this enchanting island. Captivated by Capri's beauty, the Roman Emperor Tiberius built a number of palaces here including the magnificent Villa Jovis, which we will visit. Although mostly in ruins today, the remains hint at its past importance. There will also be some free time for independent exploration. Away from the main streets are quiet shady back lanes lined with whitewashed old buildings embellished with domes and arches and splashed with bright flowers. Surprises await as you turn each corner perhaps an old church or villa, or maybe a tiny square where children play. Close to the village of Anacapri is the Villa San Michele, the former home of celebrated doctor and philanthropist Axel Munthe. Surrounded by fragrant gardens, the house has been left much as it was on his death, full of the curios and antiquities he collected. Cumae Solfatara Pozzuoli I TA LY Naples Herculaneum Pompeii Island of Ischia VICO EQUENSE Amal Oplontis Paestum Island of Capri 22 To view dates & prices click here To book click here

Italy to the Adriatic contd… Pompeii, Paestum and Herculaneum