Naples History & Classics Tour

The famous Roman ruins at Pompeii give a fascinating glimpse into Roman life. In AD 79 the fury of Vesuvius was unleashed upon this prosperous city, killing many of its inhabitants and burying it under a thick layer of pumice and ash. Today, the excavations reveal the ruins of the city’s amphitheatres, forum, baths, streets and many splendid houses, some with their elaborate frescoes still visible. One of these mosaic frescoes famously bears the Latin phrase ‘Cave Canem’ meaning ‘Beware of the Dog’, reminding us that these were people like ourselves whose lives were ordinary until the cataclysmic eruption.

The ancient city of Herculaneum was buried in mud in the same cataclysm that destroyed Pompeii. Herculaneum was struck by a succession of cataclysmic pyroclastic flows which covered it with thick volcanic mud and ash. The city is notable for the high standard of preservation of its houses and public baths as well as various perishable materials such as wood, textiles and scrolls. The Roman sea shore has been exposed during the excavations and a Roman boat has been preserved in a special museum.

The city of Capua was founded by the Etruscans in the fifth century BC, and lay on the Via Appia, making it the most important city in the area. Cicero compared it to Carthage or Corinth, and it was a city to rival Rome. Capua was also the location of the first and most famous gladiator school where the Spartacus revolt broke out in 73 BC. Subsequently it is believed the Emperor Augustus ordered the construction of the amphitheatre, second only in size to the Colosseum in Rome. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was sacked by the Vandals and Saracens and the amphitheatre fell into disuse, but its sheer size and ambition can still be seen today.

At Pozzuoli you see the Temple of Serapis which was partially submerged after construction. This was originally attributed to changes in sea level but was it was later determined that the geological forces at play in the Campi Flegrei super-volcano caused the ground to move slowly up and down with the ebb and flow of magma chambers deep within the earth, a process known as bradyseism. The roughened area in the middle of each column shows the effect of marine action while the dividing line and the smooth area at the bottom of each column shows how far it was buried in sediment, before being uplifted again.

The Naples Archaeological Museum displays works spanning the Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Renaissance periods. Its Farnese collection contains some of the most important Roman statues and artifacts from nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum. One of the more unusual highlights is the Secret Room which houses a wide array of Roman erotic art.

Paestum, which is located to the south of modern-day Salerno, was an ancient city in the region known as Magna Graecia. Founded as a Greek city-state around 600BC it was then known by the Greek name Poseidonia.  Today, Paestum as the Roman’s called it, has probably the best-preserved Greek temples to be found. There are two Doric temples, one dedicated to Hera and the other to Poseidon. The third temple is to Athena and combined Ionic and Doric styles. Adjacent to the archaeological site is a fascinating museum which displays various artefacts that have been found during excavations. Most important of these is the Tomb of the Diver, an incredible painted tomb from around 470 BC which displays a series of frescoes including that of a young man diving into water which is believed to be a symbol of passing into the after-life.

The fascinating Naples Underground City is a labyrinth of tunnels and subterranean rooms which in some cases date back thousands of years. The tunnels were originally excavated by the ancient Greeks as a water storage system, and you can still see reservoirs holding water. In the twentieth century they were used as bomb shelters during WW2.

Explore the beautiful Amalfi Coast where pastel-hued villages lie terraced into the hillsides and spectacular roads hug the cliffs and coastline. From late Spring to Autumn the vivid colours of bougainvillea and an intense fragrance of lemon contribute to the undoubted charms and make the Amalfi Coast unmissable. The journey brings us first to Praiano and then to the town of Amalfi itself. Our route then heads into the mountains and to the pretty town of Ravello, perhaps the Amalfi Coast’s most peaceful and charming resort. Greta Garbo, Gore Vidal and D.H. Lawrence have all passed through here and for many Ravello is the jewel in the Amalfi Coast crown.

The beautiful island of Capri is reached by hydrofoil from Sorrento. Unlike the other islands in the Bay, Capri is comprised of limestone and used to be joined to the mainland but over many thousands of years the link was eroded by the sea. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy now, but there is also agriculture with vineyards, olive groves and citrus fruits. Local minibus transportation allows you to explore the island, including the world-famous sea stacks and natural arch by its impressive cliffs. You can also visit the Villa Jovis which once belonged to the Emperor Tiberias and can indulge in the dolce vita in the elegant cafes of Marina Grande.