Pompeii, Capri & the Bay of Naples

Day 1 | Saturday 10 April
Rome to Sorrento
We meet at Rome Fiumicino airport at 10.00am before departing by coach to Sorrento, enjoying our first glimpses of the spectacular coastline for which the region is famous. Arriving in the afternoon, we check into our hotel and enjoy a relaxed orientation walk before a welcome dinner this evening. Overnight Sorrento (D)

Day 2 | Sunday 11 April
Oplontis & Boscoreale
Wealthy citizens escaped the bustle of ancient Rome for the shores of the Bay of Naples, building magnificent holiday villas designed for pleasure and relaxation. After a talk in our hotel we follow in their footsteps, making our way along the southern side of the bay to the remarkable archaeological site of Oplontis. Buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, the site is best known for the lavish Villa of Poppea, thought to have belonged to Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of the Emperor Nero. In the afternoon we visit the small ‘farm villa’ at Boscoreale – a fascinating archaeological example of how a working farm operated in Roman times. Here we also find a small but important museum focused on daily life in the Vesuvian countryside before the catastrophic eruption. Dinner this evening is enjoyed in our hotel. Overnight Sorrento (B, D)

Day 3 | Monday 12 April
The Amalfi Coast
This morning our coach takes us along the Amalfi Coast, famous for its steep limestone cliffs, exceptional views, and the glamorous resort towns which grew out of small fishing villages as society and prospects for locals changed. We stop in chic Positano for a photo opportunity in this most picturesque of towns before heading on to Amalfi, a lovely counterpoint to showy Positano, where the medieval main square is dominated by the Moorish-influenced cathedral with its elegant mosaic façade. There is time for a relaxed lunch before we join our ferry back to Sorrento, enjoying the coastal landscape and views from a different perspective. After a talk in our hotel the evening is at leisure. Overnight Sorrento (B)

Day 4 | Tuesday 13 April
Pompeii
Today we travel to Pompeii, where we spend the day exploring the private and public buildings which have captured the imagination of visitors since the ruins were discovered in the 18th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the only archaeological site in the world that provides a complete picture of an ancient Roman city. Tour leader Dr Estelle Lazer’s extensive experience and expertise on the site makes this an exceptional visit and our structured tour will include the huge variety of ruins on show, from well-preserved buildings to public bath complexes and even an amphitheatre. A picnic lunch will be provided during our visit. Returning to Sorrento the evening is at leisure. Overnight Sorrento (B, L)

Day 5 | Wednesday 14 April
Capri
Departing Sorrento this morning we take a ferry to the beautiful island of Capri, lying just off the southern end of the Bay. After checking into our hotel we head out on a guided walking tour, exploring the vestiges of ancient villas amongst their chic modern counterparts and enjoying the spectacular views from an island which has been a favoured holiday destination since the time of the Roman Republic. Our extended time here offers a respite from the day-trippers and in the late afternoon we enjoy a quiet stroll through the town and dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Capri (B, D) 

Day 6 | Thursday 15 April
Anacapri
Today we travel to Anacapri, perched on the western heights of the island. Here we visit Villa San Michele and its celebrated gardens, created in the early 20th century by Swedish physician and writer Axel Munthe on the ruins of an ancient chapel. A deeply personal project, the villa blends archaeological fragments, sculpture and planted terraces to frame sweeping views across Capri. We also visit the Church of San Michele, renowned for its remarkable 18th-century majolica floor depicting the Expulsion from Eden. Weather permitting, we conclude our visit with a chairlift ride to the summit of Monte Solaro, Capri’s highest point, for stunning views across the Bay of Naples. Overnight Capri (B)

Day 7 | Friday 16 April
Naples
Departing Capri by ferry this morning, we arrive in Naples by mid-morning and begin our exploration of this vibrant and often misunderstood city in Piazza Bellini. Situated in the heart of the old centre, the Piazza is home to exposed ancient ruins of western walls from Neapolis and is surrounded by historical palaces. We enjoy lunch in a local cafe here before continuing to the Pio Monte della Misericordia where we see Caravaggio’s complex and powerful masterpiece, The Seven Works of Mercy. Our next stop is the city’s magnificent Cathedral, Duomo di Napoli. Here we explore the Chapel of St Januarius, an internationally-acclaimed gem of Baroque art and architecture, greatly influenced by the famous Raimondo de Sangro VII, Prince of Sansevero. After checking into our hotel in the late afternoon, we enjoy an aperitivo before our private evening visit of Cappella Sansevero, home to Giuseppe Sanmartino’s awe-inspiring Veiled Christ – an artistic tour-de-force carved in marble. Overnight Naples (B, L)

Day 8 | Saturday 17 April
Naples Old & New
We begin today with a guided walking tour across the historical centre of Naples, taking us through centuries of art and architecture. Our morning includes the fine 18th-century majolica cloisters of the monastery of Santa Chiara and the beautiful Baroque interior of the Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo, before venturing along the Spaccanapoli – one of Naples’s main thoroughfares, cutting a straight line through the tangle of medieval lanes. Later, we enjoy a panoramic coach tour of the bay, taking in the sweeping views from the elegant hillside district of Posillipo, before concluding the day with an aperitivo at the Gran Café Gambrinus – an historic Neapolitan coffeehouse and local instituion from the 19th century. Overnight Naples (B)

Day 9 | Sunday 18 April
Herculaneum | San Carlo Theatre
Though smaller and less visited than Pompeii, the historic site at Herculaneum is in many ways better preserved, with mosaics, paintings and even wooden architecture and furniture still in situ. After a talk this morning we tour the site, which features large once seafront houses as well as baths, shops, and other public buildings. Returning to Naples in the afternoon, our next stop is the National Archaeological Museum, home to an extraordinary collection of paintings, mosaics, sculptures and everyday objects from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other sites around the Bay of Naples. This evening (schedules permitting), we plan to attend a concert at the historic Teatro San Carlo, one of Europe’s oldest continuously operating opera houses. Overnight Naples (B)

Day 10 | Monday 19 April
The Royal Palace of Caserta
Today we head north, enjoying a day at the Royal Palace of Caserta, a monumental complex built by architect Luigi Vanvitelli in the mid-18th century for the Bourbon King Charles III. Described by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention as “an eloquent expression of the Enlightenment in material form” the palace, a triumph of Italian Baroque, integrates beautifully into the vast park in which it is set. Combining manicured terraces and natural woodland with pools, fountains, and cascades, the park is one of the last great gardens of Europe. After a guided visit of the palace, the afternoon is free to enjoy the gardens. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Naples (B)

Day 11 | Tuesday 20 April
Capodimonte & The Catacombs
A day of exceptional art awaits us and the elegant hilltop Vomero district is our first stop. Here we explore the 14th-century Carthusian monastery of San Martino, centred on one of the most beautiful cloisters in Italy with exceptional views across the city. Today it houses the Museo Nazionale di San Martino, featuring numerous Spanish and Bourbon era artifacts, as well as the “Presepe” (Nativity scene) that is considered to be one of the finest in the world. Heading further into the hills above Naples, we then visit the Palace of Capodimonte. Once a royal hunting lodge, the palace is today a world-class art gallery, containing paintings by Raphael, Titian, El Greco and Botticelli. Our day then ends at the oldest and most famous of Naples’ ancient catacombs, the Catacomba di San Gennaro, decorated with 2nd-century Christian frescoes and 5th-century mosaics. On return to our hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Naples (B)

Day 12 | Wednesday 21 April
Ischia
The Phoenician/Greek settlement of Pithecusae was an important trading port in ancient times but modern Ischia is better known today for its fine beaches and thermal spas. A morning ferry brings us to this picturesque volcanic island, lying at the northern end of the Bay. On arrival, we explore the 15th-century Castello Aragonese, a fortified city on its own rocky outcrop connected to Ischia by a causeway. Originally established in 474 BCE by Hiero I of Syracuse, the site has witnessed numerous transformations. After lunch together overlooking the fishing village of Ischia Ponte, we return to Naples by ferry. Overnight Naples (B, L)

Day 13 | Thursday 22 April
Baia & Cumae
Today we explore two lesser-known but no less remarkable archaeological sites at the northern tip of the Bay. We begin in Baia, once a wealthy Roman resort town, known for its opulent villas. Here we visit the Aragonese Castle, perched on a promontory overlooking the bay. This 15th-century castle now houses the Archaeological Museum of the Phlegraean Fields, featuring artifacts from Baiae and surrounding areas that include sculptures, frescoes and daily life items. After a lunch break by the harbour, we continue to the site of the ancient Greek colony in Cumae, where we visit the Cave of the Sybil. This atmospheric, trapezoidal tunnel carved deep into the volcanic rock is said to be the legendary seat of the Cumaean Sibyl, the prophetess of Apollo. A climb to the Acropolis also takes us to the Temple of Apollo, where panoramic views stretch over the Campi Flegrei. Returning to Naples, there is time to freshen up before we reconvene for our farewell dinner in a fine local restaurant. Overnight Naples (B, D)

Day 14 | Friday 23 April
Naples to Rome
The tour concludes this morning with a transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino airport, arriving in time to meet afternoon flights. (B)